PHA-Exchange> ANNOUNCING: National Health Assembly in India -- organised by PHM India

[ctddsf at vsnl.com]

Dear All,

Appended below is a brief overview of the Second National Health assembly, being organised in India by PHM-India (Jan Swasthya Abhiyan), from 23-25th March, 2007. 

This is also to invite other parts of the world to participate in the Assembly.

One separate session, titled "Tricontinental Dialogue" has been specifically designed to promote exchange on Health Care in the Era of Globalisation. The central slogan of the Assembly is "Defending Peoples Health in the Era of Globalisation" and PHM-India also sees it as an opportunity for exchange of experiences and strategies among different PHM partners from across the world.

While PHM-India is not in a position to support travel costs, we would be happy to welcome particpants from other countries and make arrangements for their stay and and provide other local support.

Do write to us about your interest in attending (write to ctddsf at vsnl.com) and for other details regarding the programme.

Wishing all of you a productive New Year.

Dr.Amit Sen Gupta
(for PHM-India)
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National Health Assembly II
23-25th March, Bhopal India

Background: The Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) (Peoples Health Movement - India) proposes to organise a Second National Health Assembly(NHA II) on 23rd to 25th March, 2007 in Bhopal. The JSA comprises of national networks and organisations that had come together to organize the First National Health Assembly (NHA I) in Calcutta in November, 2000. The JSA forms the Indian regional circle of the global People's Health Movement, which was set up after the Peoples Health Assembly in Dhaka in December 2000.

The Assembly is expected to be attended by over 2,000 delegates – a bulk from India, but also a substantial number form South Asia, other parts of Asia, and a few from other continents. Thus, the Assembly would also be an opportunity to share experiences with health activists from other countries, and also to link with global initiatives that promote the right to health care and confront the ill-effects of globalisation on Health.

Perspective of the Health Assembly: After the NHA-I the JSA has traveled some distance with a few successful landmarks as described above. The needs to take stock of these changes and collectively formulate and pose comprehensive yet detailed alternative demands and strategies (the Peoples Health Plan). It must also reinforce its process of dialogue with the political decision makers as key players in the formulation of health policy. At the same time, the campaign has to assess and analyse its organisational strengths, and expand to fulfill the challenges before it. The National Health Assembly-II process will try to address the various aspects outlined above. The overarching theme for the National Health Assembly would be: “Defending the Health of People in the Era of Globalisation”. Within this framework the major thematic axes of the Assembly are:  1) Impact of Globalisation on Health; 2) Health as a Human Right; 3) Access to Essential Drugs, especially in the context of
 the global trading regime; 4) Social Determinants of Health; 5) Privatisation of Medical Care and its regulation; 6) Women’s Right to Health Care; 7) Children’s Right to Health Care; 8) Right to Health Care of Marginalised Groups; 9) Impact of New Technologies on Health.

Activities Proposed: The Health Assembly is conceived as the culmination of a process of a large variety of pre-Assembly activities : a) Pre-Assembly Conventions; b) Discussion Groups (Jan Samvad); c) Local Enquiry and NRHM Watch; d) Public hearings (Jan Sunwai); e) People’s Health Plans; f) Environment Building Activities; g) District and State Health Assemblies.

NHA II Programme: The programme is still evolving and would build in inputs from different JSA partners. The three day programme incorporates the following elements:
· Presentations and Discussions on Key Thematic Areas of the Assembly
· Workshops organised by partner organisations that reflect different concerns
· Dialogue and Exchange with Peoples Health Movement (PHM) partner organisations from different parts of the world.
· Presentations of Health Plans by State JSA constituents
· Dialogue with Policy Makers

Venue and Logistics: NHA-II will be held at Bhopal, capital city of Madhya Pradesh in Central India (its an overnight train journey from Delhi, or about an hour by air). The venue will be in Rabindra Bhawan, which is centrally located in the heart of the city. There are 10 Halls within walking distance of 2-300 capacity; 5-6 of them will be utilised for the parallel sessions. Stalls and exhibition spaces would be built in the main Rabindra Bhawan complex. Delegates will be accommodated in dormitories available within 1-2 kms. of the venue.