Pacific pathways for inclusive global health

International health, despite achievements in combating diseases like smallpox and measles, was long criticised for prioritising colonial-era interests over the empowerment of local communities. Although global health emerged as a corrective to the colonial tradition of ‘international health’, it still bears imprints of its predecessor.1 These colonial legacies remain embedded in contemporary realities, particularly evident in the health landscapes of Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Disproportionate prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions not only reflects biomedical factors but also weakened local food systems and reliance on imported staples rooted in colonial-era transformations.