PHM-Exch> Fwd: Big business determines priorities for WHO?

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Alison Katz <katz.alison at gmail.com>


As you will see from the abstract below, reports that WHO produces on its
own (without interference and undue influence) are sometimes very different
(and sometimes significantly better) from those it produces with various
“partners” corporate and otherwise.    ****

** **

In relation to the article (abstract below), there are two major issues of
concern:****

** **

**1.      ***The fact that the World Economic Forum is now very active in
global health.* Remember that the WEF is an unrepresentative, unaccountable
rich man’s club (of multinational corporations) which offers privileged
access for big business to government leaders (even more privileged than
they already illegitimately and undemocratically enjoy), and the WEF boasts
of its influence worldwide. It is a indeed a powerful organization,
certainly exerting influence on government policy - and a perfect
illustration of plutocracy rather than democracy in today’s grotesquely
unequal world.****

** **

**2.      ***Non communicable diseases are NOT the priority in poor
countries*, contrary to the very misleading “hard sell” promotional
messages conveyed in documents that WHO produces with its corporate
partners. This does not mean that NCDs are not a major problem. They are,
and they are even in poor countries. But in terms of premature mortality
(under 5, not under 60!) infectious disease is still the priority in poor
countries as the WHO’s Global Burden of Disease reports (which are produced
without corporate or other “partners”) clearly show.  ****

** **

I would be very pleased to  hear from anyone who feels that this is an
issue (in terms of skewing priorities and sidelining social determinants of
health and a rights based approach) that PHM should be taking up. ****

** **

In solidarity, Alison****

** **

** **

World Health Organization Under Critical Scrutiny****

** **

NONCOMMUNICABLE DISEASES: GLOBAL HEALTH PRIORITY OR MARKET OPPORTUNITY?****

AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AT ITS WORST AND AT ITS
BEST****

** **

Alison Rosamund Katz****

** **

The promotion of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) as a global health****

priority started a decade ago and culminated in a 2011 United Nations****

high-level meeting. The focus is on four diseases (cardiovascular and
chronic****

respiratory diseases, cancers, and diabetes) and four risk factors (tobacco
use,****

unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and harmful alcohol use). The message
is****

that disease and death are now globalized, risk factors are overwhelmingly**
**

behavioral, and premature NCD deaths, especially in low- and middle-income**
**

countries, are the concern. The NCD agenda is promoted by United Nations****

agencies, foundations, institutes, and organizations in a style that
suggests a****

market opportunity. This “hard sell” of NCDs contrasts with the sober style*
***

of the World Health Organization’s Global Burden of Disease report, which***
*

presents a more nuanced picture of mortality and morbidity and different****

implications for global health priorities. This report indicates continuing
high****

levels of premature death from infectious disease and from maternal,
perinatal,****

and nutritional conditions in low-income countries and large health****

inequalities. Comparison of the reports offers an illustration of the World*
***

Health Organization at its worst, operating under the influence of the
private****

sector, and at its best, operating according to its constitutional mandate.
****

** **

International Journal of Health Services, Volume 43, Number 3, Pages
437–458, 2013****

** **
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