The Commonwealth plays an important role in helping member countries to attain the child and maternal health Millennium Development Goals. Improvements in child and maternal mortality are the major contributors to increasing life expectancy.
Health and human development have been priority areas for Commonwealth governments since 1965, when Ministers first met in Edinburgh for the inaugural Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting (CHMM) and Commonwealth Medical Conference.
The median average life expectancy for a Commonwealth country is about 70 years.
Mental Health
Examining the socio-economic issues and health systems surrounding mental health. Read more
Burden of disease
A broad account of the latest research on communicable and non- communicable diseases. Read more
Health systems
Exploring the role of government in health and the state of health systems, including the number of medical staff and level of state funding. Read more
Browse by section and country
Find out more about health matters in each of the 54 Commonwealth countries from Antigua and Barbuda to Zambia.
Click a continent to view countries and resources:
About Us
Commonwealth Health Online is the first online resource dedicated, exclusively, to health in the Commonwealth. The website consists of 53 country profiles focusing on child and maternal mortality, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, mental health, health systems, current health issues and progress towards the Health MDGs. In addition, each country section consists of partnering organisations showcasing best practice in their respective fields from genetics to nursing. The Commonwealth Health Partnerships section consists of many articles centred on prevailing health themes and issues.