PHM-Exch> Fwd: Bulletin #59: Health workers of the world united against brain drain

Sun Sep 24 00:47:02 PDT 2023

This fortnight   Global North countries continue to treat health systems in
the Global South as a pool for recruiting workers. At the same time, they
neglect the workers who are already employed in hospital wards and health
centers. This short-sighted approach is harmful for the Global South, where
the health workers’ shortage is particularly pronounced. It is also
perpetuating a vicious cycle of unmanageable workload and career dropout
among nurses and other health workers. Nina Bergman from

Bulletin #59: Health workers of the world united against brain drain
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/f2afdf0e?m=a33219b1-51ba-4205-9e52-d0a232aa67c2>
By People's Health Dispatch • 24 Sept 2023 View in browser
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This fortnight

Global North countries continue to treat health systems in the Global South
as a pool for recruiting workers. At the same time, they neglect the
workers who are already employed in hospital wards and health centers. This
short-sighted approach is harmful for the Global South, where the health
workers’ shortage is particularly pronounced. It is also perpetuating a
vicious cycle of unmanageable workload and career dropout among nurses and
other health workers.

Nina Bergman from the Swedish Association of Health Professionals is one of
the trade unionists in Europe who are opposing such an approach. In an
interview with the People’s Health Dispatch, she talks about the policies
that trade unions in Sweden
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/a28ccb7a?m=a33219b1-51ba-4205-9e52-d0a232aa67c2>
are demanding to strengthen the public health system without transferring
the burden to the Global South.

As one of the preferred destination countries for many migrating health
workers, Germany has embarked on a campaign of active recruitment in
several countries. In addition to Brazil, the German labor minister
recently approached policy makers in the Indian state of Kerala. While the
official narrative is that the migration of nurses from Kerala
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/ecf7b5c2?m=a33219b1-51ba-4205-9e52-d0a232aa67c2>
is an option benefiting everyone involved, the reality on the ground is not
so clear cut.

The brain drain of health workers and privatization of healthcare are a
direct result of capitalism. In order to stop the current trends, health
experts and activists have to address this root cause explicitly. During
the 19th conference of the International Association of Health Policy Europe
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/7d54d11c?m=a33219b1-51ba-4205-9e52-d0a232aa67c2>,
participants reaffirmed their determination to continue exposing
capitalism’s harmful effects on health.

The European Environment Agency recently published a report
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/e24f0406?m=a33219b1-51ba-4205-9e52-d0a232aa67c2>
which notes alarmingly high levels of Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical with
detrimental effects on human health, across the whole region. The chemical
and its most widespread alternatives represent a threat to the workers who
are exposed to them in their workplaces. But the general population is also
highly exposed, due to the chemical being present in food packaging and
specific types of pipes used for water delivery.
------------------------------
Featured articles

*Health workers in Sweden demand workforce policies that do not rely on
international recruitment
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/49d655ec?m=a33219b1-51ba-4205-9e52-d0a232aa67c2>*

Nina Bergman from the Swedish Association of Health Professionals talks
about the working conditions of health workers in Sweden and the trade
union’s support for the struggles for workers’ rights in the Global South

*German health workforce strategy depends on nursing drain from India
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/58862fc9?m=a33219b1-51ba-4205-9e52-d0a232aa67c2>*

Germany’s bid to address its nursing shortage through international
recruitment spans Latin America, eastern Europe, and Asia. India,
especially the State of Kerala, finds itself among the top cadre providers

*Capitalism is the greatest threat to public health, warn researchers and
activists
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/a44ab655?m=a33219b1-51ba-4205-9e52-d0a232aa67c2>*

During the opening of the 19th conference of the International Association
of Health Policy Europe, academics and activists warned that capitalism
remains biggest threat to human and planetary health
------------------------------
Short reads

*European Environment Agency warns about alarmingly high levels of toxic
chemical BPA across continent
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/17f3f53a?m=a33219b1-51ba-4205-9e52-d0a232aa67c2>*

Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical with detrimental effects on human health,
enters the body via food packaging, which includes plastic containers, baby
bottles, and epoxy resin-lined pipes used for water delivery. Workers in
certain sectors are also highly vulnerable
------------------------------
Data speaks

As the International Safe Abortion Day approaches on September 28, women
all over the world still face widespread obstacles in accessing this, and
many more sexual and reproductive health services. Data from the Abortion
Facility Database Project shows that the median cost of abortion in the
United States has risen in the period between 2017 and 2021, averaging well
above 500 USD.
Source: Abortion Facility Database Project, Advancing New Standards in
Reproductive Health (ANSIRH); https://tinyurl.com/usmedianabortioncost
------------------------------
In case you missed it
Inviting contributions for PHM Campaign on the Right to Safe Abortion-
September 28, 2023 | People’s Health Movement
Home
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/c750d3bd?m=a33219b1-51ba-4205-9e52-d0a232aa67c2>
Doctors’ strike to disrupt care ‘unlike anything seen before’, warn NHS
officials
Consultants and junior doctors in England will take joint action this week
for the first time in escalating pay dispute
The Guardian•Sophie Zeldin-O’Neill
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/831c6e25?m=a33219b1-51ba-4205-9e52-d0a232aa67c2>
Menstrual health must be prioritised in global policies
Menstrual health is the gateway to promoting sexual and reproductive health
rights, building body autonomy and self-efficacy, elevating women’s
leadership, and improving health literacy. However, its full potential has
not been recognised by global leaders, and menstrual health has been
omitted from…
The BMJ•Martin J S, Masinde J, CaÃ±izares A, Irfan S, Lal A.
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/9e6df0dc?m=a33219b1-51ba-4205-9e52-d0a232aa67c2>
Poland: Abortion Witch Hunt Targets Women, Doctors
Poland’s government is targeting people for alleged abortion-related
activities, intensifying a climate of fear that heightens risks for women
and girls. The government’s dubious use of its powers to chase down alleged
abortion-related activity threatens people’s rights to privacy, autonomy,
and hea…
Human Rights Watch
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/ec42249b?m=a33219b1-51ba-4205-9e52-d0a232aa67c2>
‘From Vegetables To Potatoes To Shoes’: Experts Express Frustration At UN
Declarations On Pandemics, Universal Health Coverage And Tuberculosis -
Health Policy Watch
Leading global health experts and activists have expressed frustration and
disappointment at the draft political declarations on pandemics, universal
health
Health Policy Watch•Kerry Cullinan
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/a277f795?m=a33219b1-51ba-4205-9e52-d0a232aa67c2>
*People’s Health Dispatch is an initiative of Peoples Dispatch and the
People's Health Movement*
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