PHM-Exch> Fwd: Bulletin #27: WTO and WHA: The Struggle Continues

[Health PD]

This fortnight Country delegates are once again meeting in Geneva, this
time for the 12th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization
(WTO). For almost two years, the WTO held the TRIPS waiver proposal on its
agenda, but failed to secure any significant progress. Instead, under the
pressure of the European Union and other Global North countries, those
attending the meeting are more likely to adopt an alternative decis

Bulletin #27: WTO and WHA: The Struggle Continues
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/bulletin-27-wto-and-wha/>
By People's Health Dispatch – 12 Jun 2022 – View online →
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/bulletin-27-wto-and-wha/>

This fortnight

Country delegates are once again meeting in Geneva, this time for the 12th
Ministerial Conference
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/12/wto-and-pandemic-response/> of the
World Trade Organization (WTO). For almost two years, the WTO held the
TRIPS waiver proposal on its agenda, but failed to secure any significant
progress. Instead, under the pressure of the European Union and other
Global North countries, those attending the meeting are more likely to
adopt an alternative decision with none of the significance or impact of
the original proposal.

The original TRIPS waiver aimed to lift intellectual property (IP
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/12/private-monopolies-hinder-progress-on-public-health-intellectual-property-at-the-75th-world-health-assembly/>)
privileges in the case of Covid-19 products, putting people’s health ahead
of the pharmaceutical sector’s profits. The current intellectual property
system was questioned during the 75th World Health Assembly as well, but
WHO members failed to clearly condemn its harmful effects on health.

The World Health Assembly also heard discussions on non-communicable
diseases
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/11/obesity-pandemic-at-the-world-health-assembly-when-the-unhinged-market-feeds-disease/>,
including the impact of commercial determinants of health. Similarly to
what happened during the conversation on IP privileges, delegates failed to
plan concrete steps for countering corporate strategies of sidelining
public health advice in marketing and sales of products which fuel the
non-communicable diseases pandemic, including alcohol
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/11/world-health-assembly-falls-short-of-insulating-food-and-alcohol-plans-from-commercial-interests/>and
ultra-processed food.

The industries responsible for aggressive marketing of harmful products are
not limiting themselves to making the most of the space they already
occupy. They are also investing large amounts of money into lobbying
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/12/is-corporate-lobbying-influencing-us-positions-at-the-who/>delegates’
positions at the WHO. This seems to be the case in the United States, where
a recent report shows millions of corporate dollars being spent on
influencing US delegates' standpoints.

The success of corporate strategies in influencing WHO's work depends at
least in part on the ability of the organization to secure adequate funding
from its members. The World Health Assembly finally agreed to increase
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/11/sustainably-financing-the-world-health-organization/>the
amount of assessed contributions from member states, but it is unlikely
this will be enough to resolve all financial problems faced by the WHO. We
look more closely at the structure of WHO’s budget in our *Data Speaks*
section.

Health workers
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/08/trade-unions-and-civil-society-ask-who-members-for-stronger-commitment-to-health-workers-rights/>
also found themselves on the World Health Assembly’s agenda. We met with
Baba Aye, Health and Social Sector Officer at Public Services
International, to discuss what lies ahead for workers and trade unions in
the health sector following the assembly’s decisions.
------------------------------

*World Trade Organization and Pandemic response: Time is up
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/12/wto-and-pandemic-response/>*

At the 12th Ministerial Conference of the WTO taking place from 12-16 June,
trade delegates are likely to pass a meaningless Covid-19 decision in an
attempt to safeguard the organization’s face after months of botched
negotiations for a suspension of harmful trade rules on intellectual
property

*Private monopolies hinder progress on public health: intellectual property
at the 75th World Health Assembly
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/12/private-monopolies-hinder-progress-on-public-health-intellectual-property-at-the-75th-world-health-assembly/>*

Obstruction by pharmaceutical companies from the Global North and misuse of
monopoly privileges continue to slow down research into new vaccines and
medicines, with disastrous effects for people’s health in the Global South.
Discussions at the 75th World Health Assembly did little to address this

*World Health Assembly falls short of insulating food and alcohol plans
from commercial interests
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/11/world-health-assembly-falls-short-of-insulating-food-and-alcohol-plans-from-commercial-interests/>*

Without stronger action to counter the influence of transnational alcohol
and food companies, industry-propelled health harm will continue to persist

*Obesity pandemic at the World Health Assembly: when the unhinged market
feeds disease
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/11/obesity-pandemic-at-the-world-health-assembly-when-the-unhinged-market-feeds-disease/>*

This year’s World Health Assembly prominently featured discussions obesity.
However, the implementation of serious policies to deal with the issue is
being undermined by the multi-stakeholder approach, which is letting
industries influence the conversation

*Is corporate lobbying influencing US positions at the WHO?
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/12/is-corporate-lobbying-influencing-us-positions-at-the-who/>*

A new report shows that US corporations and their umbrella organizations
are allocating increasing amounts of money for shaping delegates’
interventions at WHO, with potentially disastrous effects on health

*Sustainably financing the World Health Organization
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/11/sustainably-financing-the-world-health-organization/>*

Sustainable financing of the WHO was one of the most anticipated topics of
the 75th World Health Assembly. Although progress has been made through
efforts of a designated working group, worries remain that the planned
increase will not be enough to meet actual needs
------------------------------

*Video: Trade unions and civil society ask WHO members for stronger
commitment to health workers’ rights
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/08/trade-unions-and-civil-society-ask-who-members-for-stronger-commitment-to-health-workers-rights/>*

Baba Aye from Public Services International (PSI) looks back at the major
discussion points and highlights of the 75th World Health Assembly
  <https://youtu.be/CcJut1qhOJY>
------------------------------
Data speaks
------------------------------
In case you missed it
West Bengal: Anganwadi Workers Protest, Demands Include Better Wages and
Work Environment | NewsClick
Led by Paschimbanga Rajya ICDS Karmi Samiti, the workers forwarded a
seven-point demand charter to the Director, state women and child care
department.
Newsclick•<a href=”/taxonomy/term/13288″ hreflang=“en”>Sandip
Chakraborty</a>
<https://www.newsclick.in/west-bengal-anganwadi-workers-protest-demands-better-wages-work-environment>
TRIPS Waiver Negotiations: Big Pharma & Developed Countries Upbeat, India
Silent! | NewsClick
The stark vaccine inequity during the COVID-19 pandemic has failed to
appeal to the humanitarian side of the Big Pharma and the developed
countries representing its interests.
Newsclick•<a href=”/taxonomy/term/35455″ hreflang=“en”>Richa Chintan</a>
<https://www.newsclick.in/TRIPS-Waiver-Negotiations-Big-Pharma-Developed-Countries-Upbeat-India-Silent%21>
US COVID response: War and profiteering remains the priority : Peoples
Dispatch
The death toll in the US due to COVID-19 has crossed 1million. The richest
country in the world has stumbled in controlling the pandemic and the
poorest have suffered the most
Peoples Dispatch•Peoples Dispatch
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/05/us-covid-response-war-and-profiteering-remains-the-priority/>
We still need a vaccine patent waiver, but not the one on offer at the
World Trade Organization meeting
Waiving patent rights on COVID-19 vaccines and drugs is still crucial to
ensure access globally, but the waiver on the table at the June World Trade
Organization meeting doesn’t do the job.
The Conversation•Ronald Labonte
<https://theconversation.com/we-still-need-a-vaccine-patent-waiver-but-not-the-one-on-offer-at-the-world-trade-organization-meeting-181235?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=bylinetwitterbutton>
Palestinian health activist Shatha Odeh released from Israeli imprisonment
: Peoples Dispatch
60-year-old Odeh has been freed after spending 11 months in arbitrary
detention following her arrest by Israeli Occupation Forces in July, 2021
Peoples Dispatch•Peoples Dispatch
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/03/palestinian-health-activist-shatha-odeh-released-from-israeli-imprisonment/>
Medical lab scientists in Ireland demand parity in wages and recruitment :
Peoples Dispatch
Adhering to the request of the Labor Court, the Medical Laboratory
Scientists Association (MLSA) has agreed to continue talks with the
authorities and the employers to negotiate their demands for fairer wages
and better career development opportunities
Peoples Dispatch•Peoples Dispatch
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/06/01/medical-lab-scientists-in-ireland-demand-parity-in-wages-and-recruitment/>
*People’s Health Dispatch is an initiative of Peoples Dispatch and the
People's Health Movement*
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