PHM-Exch> Webinar on ‘Tackling corporatization of Healthcare: People’s experiences in times of COVID, towards social regulation and UHC’

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Abhay Shukla <abhayshukla1 at gmail.com>

As we know, the COVID-19 pandemic is today ravaging different parts of the
world, and consequently there has been unprecedented increased demand for
healthcare services. In many countries, given over-stretched public health
systems which might be inadequate to meet the heightened need in this
emergency, governments are trying to harness private health care sector
capacities. In countries like India, while measures such as rate regulation
of private healthcare providers have been adopted in over a dozen states,
experiences of patients point to major difficulties on the ground. Publicly
funded health insurance schemes have spectacularly failed to deliver in
this time of need. Overall, during the COVID pandemic, engagement of
private healthcare in LMICs seems to be generally in form of emergency
improvisations, rather than well planned and with view to sustainability.

The private sector’s “business first” attitude, even during this worst
pandemic of the century appears as manifestation of large-scale
commercialisation, combined with historical lack of effective regulation in
many countries. In the case of India, the COVID pandemic has foregrounded
two significant areas of concern – widespread commercialisation and growing
corporatisation of healthcare, which clashes with core public health goals,
and lack of effective regulatory mechanisms to ensure affordable, rational,
and quality healthcare, combined with non-existent social accountability.

Hence, we feel the need to initiate a process of learning from diverse
experiences of public engagement with private healthcare providers in the
COVID context. We should explore implications and policy directions
regarding their public harnessing and regulation, even beyond the pandemic
situation. Infact while the COVID-19 crisis is primarily a wake-up call for
majorly strengthening public health systems, it may also be a historic
opportunity for re-imagining public engagement with private healthcare. For
moving to socially re-embed private providers, enhancing their regulation
and social responsiveness, bringing their functioning in line with public
health goals, and moving in the direction of Universal Health Care.

Keeping in view this context, *COPASAH – Hub on accountability and
regulation of private sector (HARPS) is organising a global webinar
on** ‘Tackling
commercialisation and corporatisation of Healthcare: Highlighting people’s
experiences in time of COVID, moving towards social regulation and UHC’*.

*This webinar is being organised on 28th May 2021, from 12 noon to 2.30 pm
GMT / 4.30 pm to 7.00 pm Indian time.*

In the webinar, we will present key insights on corporatisation of private
healthcare, as well as the complex scenario of regulation of private
healthcare providers in India, drawing upon various sources including
recent policy research in both areas conducted by SATHI. This will be
followed by panellists sharing selected country experiences regarding
commercialised private healthcare, in context of the COVID pandemic. We
will then try to identify lessons from the pandemic regarding private
healthcare, focussing on possible strategies to enhance accountability of
private providers including regulatory reforms, modes of social harnessing
of private providers, and related pathways for moving towards UHC. After
sharing by various panellists (mentioned below), there will space for an
open discussion inviting questions and comments from the participants.

*Speakers and panellists- *

*Dr Abhay Shukla *(COPASAH Global Steering Committee Member and SATHI,
India)

*Moses Mulumba* (COPASAH Global Steering Committee Member and CEHURD,
Uganda)

*Marco Angelo *(Global Health Advocate, WEMOS Netherlands)

*Dr Abhijit More *(People’s Health Movement, Maharashtra, India)

*Anna Marriott *(Health Policy Advisor- OXFAM, GB)

*Dr T. Sundararaman *(Global Coordinator, People’s Health Movement)

*Moderator – Dr. Dhananjay Kakade,* Head of Institution, SATHI

*For joining the webinar:*

*When: May 28, 2021 12 noon GMT / 04:30 PM India*

*https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81378982128
<https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81378982128>*

*Webinar ID: 813 7898 2128*

We look forward to your joining and participating in this webinar, as well
as further strengthening of collective actions for accountability and
regulation of private healthcare sector, as part of the wider health
movement.

 *SATHI and COPASAH – Hub on Accountability and Regulation of Private
Sector*
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