PHM-Exch> Fwd: [g2h2-members] Fwd: Bulletin #12: The burden of health inequities

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Peoples Health Dispatch <health at peoplesdispatch.org>

This fortnight The way health systems function has a lot to do with how
they are financed. Although public investment in healthcare has long been
recognized as the road to more equitable access, in practice, it is
implemented by few countries. Instead, the most popular health financing
models continue to favor private providers and the market, widening the gap
between those who can access health care and thos

Bulletin #12: The burden of health inequities
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/p/c42c07e6-85b0-41f0-9e14-28d6cc75547e/>
By People's Health Dispatch – 04 Nov 2021 – View online →
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/p/c42c07e6-85b0-41f0-9e14-28d6cc75547e/>

This fortnight

The way health systems function has a lot to do with how they are financed.
Although public investment in healthcare
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/11/04/healthcare-financing-in-the-post-covid-world/>
has long been recognized as the road to more equitable access, in practice,
it is implemented by few countries. Instead, the most popular health
financing models continue to favor private providers and the market,
widening the gap between those who can access health care and those who
cannot.

Public health experts and scientists who research health inequities can
help build a counter-narrative to such a system, but they are themselves
encountering serious obstacles in their work. Near the end of October, it
was announced that the Southgate Institute
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/11/04/activists-and-scholars-condemn-closure-of-southgate-institute-for-health-society-and-equity-in-australia/>
at Flinders University – a research center dedicated to social determinants
of health and health equity – will be closing down.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of people infected with
tuberculosis has increased. This fact has a lot to do with years of neglect
of research and development of new drugs and vaccines for the disease. TB
has long been associated with poverty and living conditions, a clear
illustration of the health consequences of inequities. In this issue, we
bring a report on TB in India
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/10/28/indias-fight-against-tb-govts-eerie-silence-over-worsening-situation-drug-stock-outs/>,
as well as a video interview with health activist and TB survivor Nandita
Venkatesan
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/11/04/delayed-diagnostics-poor-treatment-the-plight-of-tuberculosis-patients-during-covid/>
.

Another determinant of health which is already disproportionately affecting
the Global South is climate change. As the world’s eyes are turned to COP26
and social mobilizations take place in Glasgow, we bring an analysis
of the summit’s
health agenda
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/11/04/the-cop26-health-agenda-must-revitalize-primary-health-care/>
.

Health workers and social movements have mobilized on other issues too. In
Greece
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/11/04/public-healthcare-workers-in-greece-go-on-strike-seeking-greater-investment-pay-hikes/>,
health workers organized a 24-hour strike to protest the government’s lack
of planning and cancellation on contracts in the middle of the pandemic. In
the UK
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/10/25/campaigns-demanding-better-access-to-nhs-dentistry-intensifies-across-england/>,
people are protesting against the continuous underfunding of dental care,
which has pushed many to the private sector.

Amid this dismal picture worldwide, Cuba presents an alternative. The
Caribbean island continues with its very successful vaccination drive using
homegrown, public sector vaccines. This time, *Data speaks *shows that Cuba
has managed to catch up – and in some cases surpass – the vaccination rates
of rich countries, although its vaccine rollout started months later.
------------------------------

*Healthcare financing in the post-COVID world
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/11/04/healthcare-financing-in-the-post-covid-world/>*

The way health systems are financed has a lot to do with the distribution
of health inequities around the world. If rich countries were to change
their approach to health financing, everyone would benefit

*The COP26 health agenda must revitalize Primary Health Care
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/11/04/the-cop26-health-agenda-must-revitalize-primary-health-care/>*

As COP26 continues, we bring an overview of the intersection of health and
climate change at the summit. Health systems can contribute to decreasing
carbon emissions by promoting the Primary Health Care approach

*India’s fight against TB: Govt’s eerie silence over worsening situation,
drug stock-outs
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/10/28/indias-fight-against-tb-govts-eerie-silence-over-worsening-situation-drug-stock-outs/>*

While India continues its poor performance in the global fight against TB,
additional challenges are emerging in the form of Delamanid stock-outs and
shortage of testing kits. Despite repeated inquiries from activists, the
government keeps mum

*Public healthcare workers in Greece go on strike seeking greater
investment, pay hikes*
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/11/04/public-healthcare-workers-in-greece-go-on-strike-seeking-greater-investment-pay-hikes/>

The Greek government has been taking advantage of the pandemic to reinforce
the privatization of the healthcare sector by promoting public-private
partnerships, contractual agreements and merging of healthcare units
------------------------------
Short reads

*Activists and scholars condemn closure of Southgate Institute for Health,
Society and Equity in Australia*
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/11/04/activists-and-scholars-condemn-closure-of-southgate-institute-for-health-society-and-equity-in-australia/>

In a surprise move, Flinders University has decided to shut down the
world-renowned Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity, a key
institution for the research of social determinants of health

*Campaigns demanding better access to NHS dentistry intensifies across
England
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/10/25/campaigns-demanding-better-access-to-nhs-dentistry-intensifies-across-england/>*

The continuous under-funding of the National Health Service and COVID-19
pandemic has led to long wait lists. Health organizations have warned that
children are struggling to access dental care and risk being left in pain
------------------------------

*Video: Delayed diagnostics, poor treatment: The plight of tuberculosis
patients during COVID
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/11/04/delayed-diagnostics-poor-treatment-the-plight-of-tuberculosis-patients-during-covid/>*

Treatment and care for TB patients was sidelined in this period of the
pandemic causing the number of deaths from to rise again after many years,
and years of progress to be reversed



------------------------------
Data speaks
------------------------------
Meaningful progress at COP26 is a matter of life and death for the Global
South - Liberation
By Roger McKenzie As the COP26 Summit begins in Glasgow we need to
recognise that the chances for the World to step back from the brink of
extinction are fast running out. Last year was the warmest year on record
in Asia. Temperatures were 1.39 degrees above the average for 1981-2010.
Cyclone Amphan…
Liberation•Liberation
Only 5 African Countries On Track To Meet 40% Vaccine Coverage Goal By End
2021; Syringe Shortage Is One Of The Latest Obstacles - Health Policy Watch
Only five African countries are likely to reach a WHO global goal of
vaccinating 40% of their populations by the end of the year, and the
continent’s
Health Policy Watch•Kerry Cullinan
License between Merck and Medicines Patent Pool for global production of
promising new COVID-19 drug molnupiravir disappoints in its access
limitations
First-ever voluntary license to patent pool in the pandemic does not go far
enough.
Médecins Sans Frontières Access Campaign
Access to healthcare during a pandemic - a nurse’s perspective - Medact
This is a guest blog for the Patients Not Passports No Borders in the NHS
Week of Action by Kirit, a nurse in the NHS.
Medact•A Medact Member
Kenya: Pandemic Health Workers Lack Protection
The Kenyan government has failed to fulfill its pledge to support health
workers fighting Covid-19, exposing them to avoidable risks of trauma,
infection, and even death.
Human Rights Watch
PSI Condemns Police Violence against Public Sector Trade Unions in Eswatini
PSI stands in solidarity with public sector unions in Eswatini who embarked
on a march on 20 October to deliver a petition to the ministry of public
service.
Public Services International The global union federation of workers in
public services•Naadira Munshi
*People’s Health Dispatch is an initiative of Peoples Dispatch and the
People's Health Movement*


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