The World Bank’s work in health: continuity and change

The World Bank is widely regarded as one of two ‘global ministries of health’ alongside the WHO. As such, it wields important normative as well as sizable financial power. The World Bank’s approach to health has changed over time, shifting from a focus on primary care to health financing to universal health care. Throughout, it has been criticized for promoting a neoliberal, privatizing agenda and serving Western and primarily American interests. Empirical evidence suggests that the World Bank’s work in health varies over time and across countries and regions, and that some of its programs, such as health projects and structural adjustment loans, may work at cross-purposes. The World Bank’s current and future work in health requires rethinking classic models of funding that reinforce national systems and boundaries and, privatization of healthcare, and awareness of mistakes.