Marrying foreign policy and health: Feasible or doomed to fail?

■ Although there appears to be no Australian foreign policy statement on health, much of our existing foreign policy has health implications, ranging across security, economic, political and humanitarian objectives. ■ Humanitarian motives have influenced Australia's foreign-aid policy, but our aid program, like our wider foreign policy, has a large national interest component. ■ A generalised approach to health and foreign policy activities is difficult given the disparate direct and indirect links between foreign policy and global health issues, and the various official and unofficial interests and responsibilities involved. ■ The greatest benefit may come from the health community making its own judgements on health priorities and seeking to engage in specific terms with foreign policy makers.