The fourth edition has an expanded scope including issues of relevance to developing countries. It presents the perspective of public health leaders, including the Director General of the World Health Organisation, on strategies to resolve existing and anticipated global health problems. It tackles difficult issues such as how to prioritize disparate public health problems, how to identify and implement cost effective strategies, the need for mobilizing the community through community involvement and the need for a comprehensive rather than an issue/disease orientated approach for the resolution of public health problems.