PHM-Exch> Fwd: Bulletin #55: Tackling the commercial determinants of child health

Sat Jul 29 12:14:04 PDT 2023

This fortnight Groups advocating for child and women’s health will mark
World Breastfeeding Week from August 1 to 4. This year, their focus will be
on issues related to supporting essential maternity protections. While
continuing their fight for environments that are more supportive of
breastfeeding, these groups will also examine the ongoing attempts by the
commercial milk formula industry to undermine existing provisions that
protect breastfeeding and promote their own interests. In a recent

Bulletin #55: Tackling the commercial determinants of child health
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/1df8f63f?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
By People's Health Dispatch • 29 Jul 2023 View in browser
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This fortnight

Groups advocating for child and women’s health will mark World
Breastfeeding Week from August 1 to 4. This year, their focus will be on
issues related to supporting essential maternity protections. While
continuing their fight for environments that are more supportive of
breastfeeding, these groups will also examine the ongoing attempts by the
commercial milk formula industry to undermine existing provisions that
protect breastfeeding and promote their own interests.

In a recent video
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/a60c2c04?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>interview,
we spoke with Patti Rundall and David McCoy, health activists and
researchers dedicated to promoting the health benefits of breastfeeding for
both women and children. They discussed current industry practices that
prioritize formula over breastfeeding, including aggressive marketing
strategies that often influence health workers as well.

David Sanders, one of the founders of the People’s Health Movement, was a
vocal advocate for better child health and addressing the commercial
determinants that shape it. In this issue, we feature an excerpt from
his conversation
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/4d469759?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>with
Anthony Costello on the politics of child health.

In mid-July, Johnson & Johnson announced a deal
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/58b9bb4d?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>with
the Global Drug Facility aimed at improving access to generic versions of
bedaquiline, a crucial drug in tuberculosis treatment. While the deal
should make it easier for some low-income countries to distribute the drug,
activists have warned that it is too little, too late and does not absolve
Johnson & Johnson of making millions in profits through evergreening of
patents for TB treatments.

With the Lula administration in power in Brazil
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/8c248adb?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>,
health policies began to shift away from the pro-private stance taken under
Jair Bolsonaro. However, certain areas, particularly mental health, require
significant effort to meet the people’s needs. We bring you more insights
from an interview originally published in Outra Saúde.

After a two-day national strike, health workers in South Korea
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/c3b193cb?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
have finally succeeded in bringing the government to the negotiating table.
The Korean Health and Medical Workers’ Union is fighting to secure safe
staffing ratios and better working conditions for the workers who keep the
health system running.
------------------------------
In focus: World Breastfeeding Week

*Video: World Breastfeeding Week 2023: Is formula milk a real alternative?
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/42b8071e?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>*

As World Breastfeeding Week 2023 approaches, Peoples Dispatch spoke to
Patti Rundall from Baby Milk Action and David McCoy from the United Nations
University. The two health experts talked about the importance of this
annual campaign, the misleading marketing widespread in the baby formula
industry, and more

<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/76809507?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

*Understanding the politics of child health care with David Sanders
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/174b72ec?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>*

International agencies and philanthrocapitalists often paint a rosy picture
of their work in the health sector. For a reality check, we bring you a
conversation with the late David Sanders on the various determinants
influencing the health of children in the Global South
------------------------------
Data speaks
Source: The Lancet Breastfeeding Series 2023,
https://www.thelancet.com/series/Breastfeeding-2023
------------------------------
Featured articles

*Johnson & Johnson’s TB drug deal will fail to reach all those in need
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/ab7d269f?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>*

A recent deal struck between Johnson & Johnson and the Global Drug Facility
promises improved access to bedaquiline in a number of low income
countries, but fails to address structural problems

*Efforts to advance mental health in Brazil must continue
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/763f1c8c?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>*

After a prolonged period of dismantling, the principles of psychiatric
health reform appear to be resurging at the forefront of policies in
Brazil. However, there is a substantial amount of work ahead to undo the
setbacks that have occurred, writes Outra Saúde
------------------------------
Short reads

*Doctors without Borders call Israel’s forceful eviction of Palestinians
from Masafer Yatta a war crime
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/7471c23b?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>*

Hundreds of Palestinians living in Masafer Yatta for generations are being
constantly harassed by the occupation forces in order to force them to
leave the area and allow Israel to build a firing range for the military

*Korean Health and Medical Workers’ Union achieves breakthrough with
general strike
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/8047df6b?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>*

Korean health workers held a two-day general strike in order to bring the
government to the negotiating table, asking for safe staffing and fair
remuneration. The strike, the largest in the health sector since 2004, saw
the participation of 60,000 members
------------------------------
In case you missed it
Some Cancer Drugs Excluded From New WHO Essential Medicines List Because Of
Cost - Health Policy Watch
High cost has prevented some cancer drugs from being included in the World
Health Organization’s (WHO) updated Essential Medicines List (EML) and
Essential
Health Policy Watch•Kerry Cullinan
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/fe48e434?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
State of the nation of Philippines: People give Marcos Jr’s administration
a failing grade : Peoples Dispatch
As the president of Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivers his State of
the Nation Address, we spoke to leaders of the Health Alliance for
Democracy (HEAD) on how the people of the country have assessed the first
year of the Marcos’ administration.
Peoples Dispatch•Peoples Dispatch
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/fadce30c?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
It’s not just tax. How PwC, KPMG and other consultants risk influencing
public health too
There’s growing concern about the potential for conflicts of interest and
undue influence on public health policy.
The Conversation•Fran Baum
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/a5dc0d49?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
Health service doctors and pharmacists begin new round of strikes -
Portugal Resident
Health service doctors and pharmacists begin new round of strikes; Protests
blamed on government’s “absence of concrete responses”
Portugal Resident•Natasha Donn
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/f552b74d?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
WHO: INB to continue with informal process without clarity on the first
negotiation draft
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/81cfc787?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
Industry-influenced study of the week: Ultra-processed foods are good for
you! - Food Politics by Marion Nestle
I am devoting this week to the pushback against advice to reduce
consumption of ultra-processed foods. It is coming from the food industry,
of course, government agencies with ties to the food industry, and
nutritionists who focus on the benefits of nutrients, without
contextualizing the foods and…
Food Politics by Marion Nestle•Marion
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/0f58146d?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
*People’s Health Dispatch is an initiative of Peoples Dispatch and the
People's Health Movement*
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