Here we present a special collection exploring the intersection between governance and public health

Governance and public health are key pillars of modern societies. When governance is fair, effective, and equitable, levels of population health are high, life span is long, infectious diseases are controlled and the environment is protected. And when governance fails, public health crumbles. It is no accident that the last case of smallpox occurred in war-torn Somalia, or that measles is epidemic today in Pakistan and polio in Syria.

The report in this collection of the journal by Matthew Kavanagh and Lixue Chen and the accompanying essay by Ambassador Eric Goosby demonstrate with great clarity that the relationship between governance and public health is bidirectional. Not only does good governance promote public health. Public health aid also strengthens governance. Kavanagh and Chan show in a review of data from 112 countries that long-term support of public health institutions in developing countries by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria strengthens societal institutions, reduces corruption and advances development.

These important papers show us once again that support for public health is not a cost but an investment in the future.

To explore this issue and discus the analyses of the question presented in the paper by Matthew Kavanagh, and Lixue Chen and in the accompanying editorial by Eric Goosby, the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) organized a webinar on June 27, 2019. Matthew Kavanagh of Georgetown University, Eric Goosby of the University of California at San Francisco and Meg Davis of the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies were the presenters. The convener was Dr. Keith Martin, CUGH Executive Director. The following is a link to this webinar: www.cugh.org/events/global-fund-governance-and-public-health