PHM-Exch> Fwd: Bulletin #37: No to austerity, yes to strong health systems

[Health PD]

This fortnight The World Health Organization, in its role as the United
Nations’ health agency, formally stands in the lead for strengthening
public health systems worldwide. Yet the role that international financial
institutions play in the shaping of health systems has only grown with
time. Today, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund often
determine how health delivery in a country is going to look. At times,
their influence might very well overshadow WHO’s. In this issue of th

Bulletin #37: No to austerity, yes to strong health systems
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/bulletin-37/>
By People's Health Dispatch – 05 Nov 2022 – View online →
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/bulletin-37/>

This fortnight


The World Health Organization, in its role as the United Nations’ health
agency, formally stands in the lead for strengthening public health systems
worldwide. Yet the role that international financial institutions play in
the shaping of health systems has only grown with time. Today, the World
Bank and the International Monetary Fund often determine how health
delivery in a country is going to look. At times, their influence might
very well overshadow WHO’s.

In this issue of the People’s Health Dispatch we focus on the effects that
World Bank and IMF programs have had on the lives of health workers and the
people relying on public health systems. We begin with an overview
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/10/28/imf-and-world-bank-no-to-austerity-yes-to-stronger-health-systems/>of
structural adjustment programs and austerity measures in the Global South
by Ronald Labonté.

Health activists and researchers Natalie Rhodes and Remco van de Pas reflect
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/10/31/how-the-world-bank-weakens-health-systems/>on
how the World Bank reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic and the launch of the
Fund for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.

The Bank’s new fund is likely to bring additional limitations for
governments in the Global South where the planning and organization of
health systems is concerned. The same thing is true for IMF programs, which
have a long history of undermining public services in countries like Ghana
and Kenya
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/11/05/structural-adjustment-by-any-other-name-international-financial-institutions-and-health-in-ghana-and-kenya/>
.

The negative effects of structural adjustment programs and austerity
measures are multifold, especially when it comes to women’s health. A
new report
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/11/03/imfs-pinkwashing-has-multifold-effects-on-womens-health/>by
ActionAid and Public Services International shows that women are
shouldering most of the burden of weakened public health systems.

Health workers are not only dealing with attacks from international
financial institutions, but with pressures from right-wing governments
too. Şebnem
Korur Fincancı
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/10/26/president-of-turkish-medical-association-sebnem-korur-fincanci-detained/>,
president of the Turkish Medical Association, was arrested under charges of
spreading terrorist propaganda at the end of October. The move against the
elected leadership of the TMA is likely an attempt by the Turkish
government to weaken and silence this progressive physicians' organization.

In *Data speaks*, we bring a snapshot of the world’s progress in the fight
against tuberculosis. Recent setbacks have been painted as a result of the
global focus on COVID-19, but data shows that progress was faltering long
before 2020.
------------------------------
Featured articles

*IMF and World Bank: no to austerity, yes to stronger health systems
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/10/28/imf-and-world-bank-no-to-austerity-yes-to-stronger-health-systems/>*

International financial institutions have shaped health systems, especially
in the Global South, through programs of structural adjustment and
austerity policies. It is imperative that these are replaced by pathways
for strengthening public health systems and the social determinants of
health

*Structural adjustment by any other name: International Financial
Institutions and health in Ghana and Kenya
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/11/05/structural-adjustment-by-any-other-name-international-financial-institutions-and-health-in-ghana-and-kenya/>*

A look at the IMF’s programs in Ghana and Kenya reveals the continuity of
more privatization, more cuts, and more threats to people’s right to health

*IMF’s pinkwashing has multifold effects on women’s health
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/11/03/imfs-pinkwashing-has-multifold-effects-on-womens-health/>*

Roos Saalbrink talks about the different ways that IMF programmes undermine
women’s right to health and the rights of women health workers
------------------------------

*Video: How the World Bank weakens health systems
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/10/31/how-the-world-bank-weakens-health-systems/>*

Health researchers Natalie Rhodes and Remco van de Pas discuss about the
nature and limitations of the World Bank Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness
and Response fund
  <https://youtu.be/W1qQmPYMbA4>
------------------------------
Short reads

*President of Turkish Medical Association Şebnem Korur Fincancı detained
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/10/26/president-of-turkish-medical-association-sebnem-korur-fincanci-detained/>*

Dr Şebnem Korur Fincancı was detained on charges of spreading terrorist
propaganda after she spoke about alleged use of chemical weapons by the
Turkish army against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq
------------------------------
Data speaks

The Global TB Report <https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240061729>
released last week shows that little progress has been made to achieve the
targets set by the World Health Organization and United Nations High Level
Meeting on TB held in 2018. While the progress slowed down during the
COVID-19 pandemic, especially with regard to the number of deaths, things
weren't looking up before the pandemic either. Data from the reports of
2019 and 2020 reveals that huge funding gaps existed even before COVID-19,
and progress towards combating TB was minimal.
Source: Global TB Report 2020 and Global TB Report 2022
Source: UN High-Level Meeting on TB: funding targets
------------------------------
Getting to the heart of women’s healthcare in India
Women in India are at heightened risk for cardiovascular disease, yet
struggle to access preventative, emergency and follow-up care.Jyotsna
Singh—Indiahttps://static.wixstatic.com/media/653556_c4adc813898c4e43821ce00c5e541ab4~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000%2Ch_1000%2Cal_c%2Cq_80/file.jpg
ReSolve GlobalHealth•Jyotsna Singh—India
<https://www.re-solveglobalhealth.com/post/getting-to-the-heart-of-women-s-healthcare-in-india?fbclid=IwAR3nzTbkajJ58bFLGqA6ZZE-pLFDe0Ofk1gXP5>
Deutsche Digest: Germany Undecided on COVID Tests & Treatments Talks at the
WTO; Berlin’s World Health Summit as an Alternate Policy Forum?
Newsletter Edition #163 [The Friday Deep Dives]
Geneva Health Files•Priti Patnaik
<https://genevahealthfiles.substack.com/p/deutsche-digest-germany-undecided>
Midwives forced to sell days off or steal food, union leader warns
Morning Star•Bethany Rielly
<https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/midwives-forced-to-sell-days-off-or-steal-food-union-leader-warns>
WHO Watch for 152nd Executive Board Meeting of WHO: Call for Participation
- People’s Health Movement
Call for Watchers to participate in the Executive Board Meeting of WHO
(January-February 2023 – in person) PHM is preparing for watching the 152nd
Executive Board meeting (EB152) of World ... Read more
People's Health Movement•gargeya
<https://phmovement.org/who-watch-call-for-participation/>
Rising Ebola cases in Uganda spark regional concern
The raising of the threat level by the WHO has neighbours on edge amid
growing questions over lockdowns and the broader response.
The New Humanitarian•Philippa Croome
<https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2022/11/01/Rising-Ebola-cases-Uganda-Rwanda-Kenya>
How a medicine shortage endangered people living with HIV
The country was facing stockout of key HIV medicines, such as dolutegravir,
lopinavir and abacavir.
The Caravan•Jyotsna Singh
<https://caravanmagazine.in/health/hiv-shortage-protest>
*People’s Health Dispatch is an initiative of Peoples Dispatch and the
People's Health Movement*
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