PHM-Exch> Fwd: Bulletin #32: New horizons for access to health care

[Health PD]

This fortnight Access to essential medicines remains a daunting problem for
many as pharmaceutical companies from the Global North are allowed to drive
the conversation, sidelining governments and patients' interests. Activists
from the Delhi Network of Positive People have spent a full month
protesting in front of the offices of the National AIDS Control
Organization, fighting against a shortage of antiretroviral drugs. We bring
a video report [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/20/one-month-l

Bulletin #32: New horizons for access to health care
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/bulletin-32/>
By People's Health Dispatch – 20 Aug 2022 – View online →
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/bulletin-32/>

This fortnight

Access to essential medicines remains a daunting problem for many as
pharmaceutical companies from the Global North are allowed to drive the
conversation, sidelining governments and patients' interests. Activists
from the Delhi Network of Positive People have spent a full month
protesting in front of the offices of the National AIDS Control
Organization, fighting against a shortage of antiretroviral drugs. We bring
a video report
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/20/one-month-later-hiv-people-in-india-continue-sit-in-demanding-regular-supply-of-life-saving-drugs/>
from the ground.

A different situation can be observed in Cuba, whose public research and
development capacities are committed to sharing knowledge and building
solutions for the world’s pressing health needs. In this issue, we look at
Cuban efforts to establish cooperation for the production of Covid-19
vaccines
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/19/cuban-vaccine-to-be-produced-in-italy-in-attempt-to-solve-who-prequalification-hurdle/>
with Italian scientists, and to develop a new treatment for Alzheimer’s
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/16/cuba-strides-ahead-in-research-of-new-alzheimers-treatment/>
disease.

Inspired by practices such as those implemented in Cuba, the global Access
to Medicines
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/19/access-to-medicines-summit-urges-for-more-decisive-action-against-big-pharma-domination/>
movement is looking back at its origins, including ideals founded in the
Alma Ata Declaration. Their intention is to mount stronger resistance to
Big Pharma and show that governments can take concrete steps to ensure
equitable access in spite of the hurdles in their way.

Obstacles in access to medicines are not the only factor undermining
people’s health. Lack of food sovereignty, underfunded health systems, and
repression all have concrete implications for health. Physician Yogesh Jain
and journalist Richard Pithouse look at the health effects of inadequate
nutrition, reduced access to public health care and stress on health,
including the well-being of activists and community leaders in South Africa
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/18/decent-health-care-requires-dignified-attention-to-each-patient/>
.

Health workers and activists in Brazil
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/15/brazils-health-workers-vow-to-save-public-healthcare-in-the-country/>
are anticipating changes as the presidential campaign rolls out. Health
workers recently expressed their support for a completely public health
system, not unlike the one echoed by presidential candidate Luiz Inácio
Lula da Silva.

Every attack that Israel launches against Palestine is a direct strike
against the health of Palestinians. As Israeli Occupying Forces bombed Gaza
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/18/gaza-under-attack-how-israel-is-sabotaging-health-care/>
once again at the beginning of August, hospitals and health centers
operated by health and community organization Al Awda had to rely on their
fuel reserves to generate electricity and treat patients. An international
campaign
<https://vivasalud.koalect.com/en-GB/p/support-al-awda-health-and-community-association-gaza/step-1>
has been launched to restore the reserves.

In *Data speaks*, we look at trends in children’s vaccination: while Cuba
managed to offer even Covid-19 vaccines to its pediatric population, many
other countries have fallen behind with key immunization programs.

*The next issue of People’s Health Dispatch will be published in the week
of 5 September.*
------------------------------

*Video: One month later, HIV+ people in India continue sit-in demanding
regular supply of life-saving drugs
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/20/one-month-later-hiv-people-in-india-continue-sit-in-demanding-regular-supply-of-life-saving-drugs/>*

In the heart of Indian capital city New Delhi, dozens of HIV positive
patients have been participating in a sit-in for a month right outside the
offices of the National AIDS Control Organization or NACO
  <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFzALf5g0No>
------------------------------
Short reads

*Gaza under attack: How Israel is sabotaging health care
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/18/gaza-under-attack-how-israel-is-sabotaging-health-care/>*

The latest attack of the Israeli occupying forces on Gaza depleted fuel
reserves that health institutions rely upon to provide health care
------------------------------
Featured stories

*Decent health care requires dignified attention to each patient
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/18/decent-health-care-requires-dignified-attention-to-each-patient/>*

Yogesh Jain, a communist doctor practicing in rural central India, recently
visited South Africa. He spoke to Richard Pithouse about his impressions
after his visit

*Cuban vaccine to be produced in Italy in attempt to solve WHO
prequalification hurdle
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/19/cuban-vaccine-to-be-produced-in-italy-in-attempt-to-solve-who-prequalification-hurdle/>*

Cuba–Italy collaboration on COVID-19 moves forward as memorandum for
production of vaccines is signed between Finlay Institute of Vaccines and
Italian biotech company

*Cuba strides ahead in research of new Alzheimer’s treatment
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/16/cuba-strides-ahead-in-research-of-new-alzheimers-treatment/>*

Cuban scientists have announced the next stage of research on NeuralCIM, a
neuroprotective drug for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia

*Access to medicines summit urges for more decisive action against Big
Pharma domination
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/19/access-to-medicines-summit-urges-for-more-decisive-action-against-big-pharma-domination/>*

Activists and academics discussed future of the access to medicines
movement at the Global Summit on Intellectual Property and Access to
Medicines in Istanbul at the end of July

*Brazil’s health workers vow to save public healthcare in the country
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/15/brazils-health-workers-vow-to-save-public-healthcare-in-the-country/>*

Activists from all over Brazil reaffirm the need to guarantee resources for
a 100% public health system
------------------------------
Data speaks
------------------------------
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Reduced access to basic health, nutrition and water and sanitation services
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*People’s Health Dispatch is an initiative of Peoples Dispatch and the
People's Health Movement*
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