New research led by Associate Professor Mofi Islam, co-investigated with Professor Deb Gleeson and Ms Cassandra de Lacy-Vawdon, has addressed a major blind spot in global public health – how local commercial forces are shaping population health in low- and middle- income countries.
“While small and medium-sized businesses are central to these economies, their impact has remained largely invisible in public health discourse, which has mainly focused on large corporations,” he says.
Using an established commercial determinant of health framework, the study reveals how these enterprises can contribute to harmful health outcomes.
“Some examples include unsafe workplaces in apparel factories, the promotion and production of items that are harmful to health, and financial practices that siphon foreign currencies out of a country through inappropriate banking systems,” he explains.
“The findings highlight how weak governance, corruption, limited labour protections and economic pressures amplify these commercial harms in low- and middle- income countries.”
The study calls for stronger local regulation, improved enforcement and multisectoral engagement, alongside stronger global leadership from institutions such as the World Health Organization.
