PHM-Exch> Fwd: Bulletin #22: Health as a bargaining chip

Sat Apr 2 12:12:52 PDT 2022

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Peoples Health Dispatch <health at peoplesdispatch.org>
Date: Sat, Apr 2, 2022 at 9:11 PM
Subject: Bulletin #22: Health as a bargaining chip
To: <ana at phmovement.org>

This fortnight War and violence are among the most painful determinants
shaping people’s health. Armed conflicts devastate both communities and
human dignity. The worst consequences are suffered by those who have the
least say when it comes to taking decisions about wars – women, children
and other marginalized communities. This has been recognized by activists
and movements across the world, such as the People’s Charter for Health of
the

Bulletin #22: Health as a bargaining chip
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/bulletin-22/>
By People's Health Dispatch – 02 Apr 2022 – View online →
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/bulletin-22/>

This fortnight

War and violence are among the most painful determinants shaping people’s
health. Armed conflicts devastate both communities and human dignity. The
worst consequences are suffered by those who have the least say when it
comes to taking decisions about wars – women, children and other
marginalized communities. This has been recognized by activists and
movements across the world, such as the People’s Charter for Health
<https://phmovement.org/the-peoples-charter-for-health/> of the People’s
Health Movement (PHM).

It is not only armed conflicts that cause pain, suffering, and deplete
health. The same effects come out of the insatiable thirst of the West –
mostly the NATO countries – for military expansion and imposing their
interests on other countries. Health has been used as a tool of imperialism
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/04/02/will-health-be-used-as-a-way-to-pressure-global-south-on-ukraine-war/>
in many ways, and the war in Ukraine has given rich countries the pretext
to find new ways of how this can be done.

Health workers in Haiti’s
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/04/02/rise-of-violence-deterioration-of-rights-sparks-month-long-actions-among-health-workers-in-haiti/>public
hospitals have been on strike since the beginning of March, demanding
working rights that would allow them to cover basic life expenses, as well
as better protection from gang violence, which has risen over the past
months.

Industrial action also took place in Greece
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/04/02/health-workers-in-greece-mobilize-against-pro-privatization-reform/>,
where the government’s healthcare reform ignited fears of privatization and
a reduction of rights for both workers and patients. In Finland
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/03/30/25000-finnish-health-workers-set-to-begin-strike-on-april-1/>,
trade unions from the health sector are campaigning for pay rises and more
recruitment to address the existing staff shortage.

After an alleged compromise text on the TRIPS waiver was leaked by the
European Union (EU) at the beginning of March, it remains unclear how much
support it enjoys among South Africa and India, who tabled the original
waiver proposal to the WTO in October 2020. It is clear, however, that the
EU text is nowhere close to ensuring equitable access to all Covid-19
products for everyone who needs them. We bring an interview
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa1Svmw3-78>with KM Gopakumar from the
Third World Network, who walks us through the most problematic aspects of
the EU text and the implications for the Global South.

In *Data speaks*, we reflect on the information presented in a recent
*Lancet* Nigeria Commission, especially the gap between Nigeria’s
government spending on health and out of pocket payments.
------------------------------

*Will health be used as a way to pressure Global South on Ukraine war?
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/04/02/will-health-be-used-as-a-way-to-pressure-global-south-on-ukraine-war/>*

The government of Lithuania reversed its decision to donate almost half a
million Covid-19 vaccine doses to Bangladesh after the latter abstained
during the UN resolution on the war in Ukraine. This sets an alarming
precedent

*Rise of violence, deterioration of rights sparks month-long actions among
health workers in Haiti
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/04/02/rise-of-violence-deterioration-of-rights-sparks-month-long-actions-among-health-workers-in-haiti/>*

Health workers in major public hospitals in Haiti continue to strike over
bad working conditions, as others join them to protest a hike in gang
violence and kidnappings
------------------------------
Short reads

*25,000 Finnish health workers set to begin strike on April 1
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/03/30/25000-finnish-health-workers-set-to-begin-strike-on-april-1/>*

Worker’s unions in Finland’s social and health care services demand
immediate staff recruitments and pay increase

*Health workers in Greece mobilize against pro-privatization reform
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/04/02/health-workers-in-greece-mobilize-against-pro-privatization-reform/>*

Health workers in Greece stopped working for three hours and took to the
streets to protest new pro-privatization legislation promoted by the
government
------------------------------

*Video: Has the TRIPS waiver been compromised?
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa1Svmw3-78>*

In this episode of People's Health Dispatch, we speak to KM Gopakumar from
the Third World Network about the recently leaked document revealing a
'compromise' on the TRIPS waiver
  <https://youtu.be/Xa1Svmw3-78>
------------------------------
Data speaks
------------------------------
In case you missed it
World hunger and the war in Ukraine : Peoples Dispatch
The conflict in Ukraine is exacerbating global hunger and imperiling the
living standards of billions – particularly in the Global South.
Peoples Dispatch•No Cold War
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/04/02/world-hunger-and-the-war-in-ukraine/>
“We reject the EU’s ‘compromise’ TRIPs waiver proposal and call on you to
do the same”
The reported EU and USA “compromise” proposal on removing restrictions on
the production and distribution of Covid-19 treatments would be worse than
no deal at all.
Progressive International
<https://progressive.international/wire/2022-03-28-we-reject-the-eus-compromise-trips-waiver-proposal-and-call-on-you-to-do-the-same/en>
Mineworkers who have paid the price
Paralysis, tuberculosis and silicosis are just some of the tragedies that
befall miners in South Africa, but mine owners have been reluctant, at
best, to do the right thing.
New Frame
<https://www.newframe.com/mineworkers-who-have-paid-the-price/>
Unprecedented increase of scabies cases in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps | MSF
Scabies, a skin disease, is on the rise among Rohingya refugees living in
camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International•Project Update25 March 2022
<https://www.msf.org/unprecedented-increase-scabies-cases-cox%E2%80%99s-bazar-refugee-camps>
TN: Mini Clinic Doctors Protest Demanding Extension of Contract and
Permanent Jobs | NewsClick
The introduction of contractual works in the healthcare sector is affecting
both the medical fraternity and the public even in a state like Tamil Nadu
with a strong healthcare network.
NewsClick•Neelambaran A
<https://www.newsclick.in/TN-mini-clinic-doctors-potest-demanding-extension-contract-permanent-jobs>
80% of rural African population lack safely managed drinking water :
Peoples Dispatch
UNICEF and WHO reported that the SDG target of universal access to safely
managed drinking water will not be met in Africa, barring major changes
Peoples Dispatch•Pavan Kulkarni
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/03/23/80-of-rural-african-population-lack-safely-managed-drinking-water/>
Leaked WTO Draft Text on TRIPS Waiver Reveals ‘Compromise’ | NewsClick
The outcome has been slammed for perpetuating Big Pharma’s vaccine monopoly
profits at the cost of lives.
NewsClick•Richa Chintan
<https://www.newsclick.in/Leaked-WTO-Draft-Text-TRIPS-Waiver-Reveals-Compromise>
*People’s Health Dispatch is an initiative of Peoples Dispatch and the
People's Health Movement*
Peoples Health Dispatch © 2022 – Unsubscribe
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/unsubscribe/?uuid=a33219b1-51ba-4205-9e52-d0a232aa67c2>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://phm.phmovement.org/pipermail/phm-exchange-phmovement.org/attachments/20220402/f7b5b152/attachment.html>