PHM-Exch> Global Health Watch 5 Published! The definitive voice for an alternative discourse on health

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Amit Sengupta <asengupta at phmovement.org>


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*18 December 2017*

In an unequal world, conditions of living that promote ill-health and
extreme inequity in access to healthcare services prevents a majority of
the world’s population from leading healthy lives. The collapse of public
health systems in many parts of the world and the rising commodification of
healthcare in several regions, depict the inability of the current
neoliberal order to address the rising crisis in health.  Accompanying
these trends is a global order where governance for health is being held
captive by private foundations and corporations. This is the context that
informs the contents of the 2017 Global Health Watch (GHW) report.

Published by Zed Books and now in its Fifth edition, the GHW is widely
perceived as the definitive voice for an alternative discourse on health. This
new edition addresses the key challenges facing governments and health
practitioners today, within the context of rapid shifts in global
governance mechanisms and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Like its
predecessors, it challenges conventional wisdom while pioneering innovative
new approaches to the field.

The Watch provides information and analysis embedded in a vision of the
world and of human society that is more just, more equal and more humane.
As in the case of the previous editions, the contents of Global Health
Watch 5 are divided into five interlinked sections.

The section on the ‘The Global political and economic architecture’ draws
causal links between decisions and choices that impact on health and the
current structure of global power relations and global governance. In his
endorsement of the book, Michael Moore, President, World Federation of
Public Health Associations, writes: “[*GHW] Offers a courageous and serious
assessment, making it compulsory health policy reading*.”

The section ‘Health systems: current issues and debates’ looks at
contemporary debates on health systems in different parts of the world, to
draw appropriate lessons and propose concrete actions. “*[GHW] Addresses
the increasingly complex problems affecting the health of populations. It
draws attention to the destructive impact of corporate power and to the
abuse of technological and scientific developments*” says Nila Heredia
Miranda, former Minister of Health for Bolivia, and Executive Director of
the Andean Health Organisation.

The third section, ‘Beyond healthcare’, examines multiple social and
structural determinants of health. Comments Nancy Krieger, Harvard T.H.
Chan School of Public Health, *“[GHW] brings together vision, critique,
solidarity, and the promise of a collective path towards health equity for
the world’s peoples. GHW5 makes vivid the connections between social
justice and public health.”*

The section on ‘Watching’ critically analyses global processes and
institutions which have a significant impact on global health. The final
section foregrounds stories of action and resistance, from different
regions of the world. Paulo Buss, Director, FIOCRUZ Center for Global
Health endorses GHW as
*:  “A consistent source of critical information and analysis of health
around the world. Terrific for researchers, teachers, students and health
activists. The current edition will help the fight for better social,
economic and environmental conditions.”  *

While the book covers a very large canvas, this edition has a particular
focus on two areas: the recently announced Sustainable Development Goals;
and the rapid transition on global governance for health from a nation
driven process to one that promotes the influence of private foundations,
consultancy firms and corporations.

GHW5 was coordinated by the People’s Health Movement (PHM), Asociacion
Latino-americana de Medicina Social (ALAMES), Health Poverty Action, Medico
International, Third World Network (TWN) and Medact.

To buy the book, visit: https://www.zedbooks.net/shop/
book/global-health-watch-5/ , Copies can also be purchased from
www.hesperian.org.


For more information visit <www.ghwatch.org/ghw4> or contact Gargeya.T
<*gargeya.t at phmovement.org
<gargeya.t at phmovement.org>*> /Amit Sengupta <asengupta at phmovement.org>.
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