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Health groups warn World Health Assembly of new WTO threat to public health

EMBARGOED UNTIL 20 May 2003. 0001 hrs CET
A coalition of major health and development groups is today sending a
warning to health ministers gathered in Geneva at the World Health Assembly.
The coalition, which represents thousands of health workers, community
groups and others concerned with the health of the world's poor, is
launching a briefing which highlights the threat posed by the World Trade
Organisation's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) to health and
health systems. The Agreement aims to open up service sectors in all WTO
member countries to increased foreign competition, by means of negotiations
currently taking place in Geneva at the WTO.
The coalition argues that, by encouraging more foreign private sector
involvement in health, GATS will increase inequality and fragment health
systems - with poor people's access to care suffering most. Furthermore,
because the health of individuals is determined by other factors, such as
access to water, liberalisation in other sectors could also harm health.
Domestic regulations meant to protect public health - such as restrictions
on the marketing of alcohol and tobacco - are also in danger, as they could
be deemed 'trade-restrictive'.
Briefing author John Hilary from Save the Children UK said: "Trade
negotiators admit that this agreement is really about helping big business
to increase its market share. Few acknowledge that it will have huge effects
on the ability of countries to maintain comprehensive health systems. As
GATS commitments are effectively irreversible, this is highly dangerous."
Maria Hamlin Zuniga from the International People's Health Council said: "We
are calling on our governments to make no GATS commitments in the health
sector, or any health-related sector."
Mike Rowson from UK global health charity Medact said: "The World Health
Organisation has to play a key role in analysing the health effects of GATS
and advising countries about its dangers. In particular, it should ensure
that the demands of trade negotiators do not take precedence over the
ability of governments to regulate in the interest of their public's
 health."
ENDS
Contacts:
For further information please call, Mike Rowson (Medact) in Geneva on +44
(0)7703 214469 (mb) or John Hilary (Save the Children, UK) in Geneva on +44
(0)777 607 6950
Note for editors:
The Briefing - The GATS threat to public health: a joint submission to the
World Health Assembly - will be launched at the World Health Assembly on 20
May from 1100-1200hrs (local time), in the NGO Lounge at the Palais des
Nations, Geneva.
The Briefing is available at www.medact.org or from info at medact.org.
The coalition of health and development groups includes: Equinet;
International People's Health Council; Medact; People's Health Movement;
Save the Children UK; Wemos; and World Development Movement.
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Message forwarded by:

Dr. Unnikrishnan PV , India
E-mail: unnikru at vsnl.com; Ph (m): +91 (0) 98450 91319

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