PHM-Exch> Fwd: Bulletin #65: The siege on health in Palestine continues

[Health PD]

 This fortnight More and more hospitals in the Gaza Strip are shutting down
operations as Israeli attacks persist for over 70 days. Health workers,
patients, and those sheltering in the buildings face increased risks of the
spread of infectious diseases, in addition to being exposed to constant
bombardments and raids. In addition to the everyday violence exerted
against local health staff, Israeli Occupying Forces have cracked down on
convoys delivering essential supplies to health facilities i

Bulletin #65: The siege on health in Palestine continues
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/92f8dfb1?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
By People's Health Dispatch • 16 Dec 2023 View in browser
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/6e8f038a?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
View in browser
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/69b20c19?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

This fortnight

More and more hospitals in the Gaza
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/271b0652?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
Strip are shutting down operations as Israeli attacks persist for over 70
days. Health workers, patients, and those sheltering in the buildings face
increased risks of the spread of infectious diseases, in addition to being
exposed to constant bombardments and raids.

In addition to the everyday violence
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/fb13cc8e?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
exerted against local health staff, Israeli Occupying Forces have cracked
down on convoys delivering essential supplies to health facilities inside
Gaza. The World Health Organization has repeatedly called for a ceasefire—a
call reasserted by the members of the WHO Executive Board through
supporting a resolution
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/04012a18?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
on the free flow of aid into the Gaza Strip. Similar calls have been echoed
by trade unions across the world, including in the United States
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/7d093d49?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
.

South Africa
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/0fa46369?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
is grappling with a health workforce shortage as health workers leave due
to neoliberal policies, particularly austerity. Countries in Eastern Europe
are facing a similar kind of problem, as their own public health systems
cannot provide adequate working conditions. This is evident in Poland
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/52506418?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>,
where a prolonged period of governance by the Law and Justice party did not
bring structural responses to the issue. With the election of a new
center-right government, it remains unclear if things will change in the
upcoming period.

Understaffing and underfunding of public health systems mean that health
services are not able to respond to everyone's needs, leaving many to cope
without institutional support. In Chicago
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/3188c727?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>,
the health needs of a large, recently-arrived migrant population remain
mostly unaddressed, with most of the response being undertaken by
volunteers and mutual aid groups.

Despite volunteers and activists playing a key role in identifying gaps in
healthcare and building alternative visions, their presence continues to be
undermined by corporate players and governments alike. After the
publication of an article criticizing the presence of fossil fuel companies
at global health conferences, the People’s Health Movement and the British
Medical Journal were removed
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/a55cd922?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
from the organizing committee of the Prince Mahidol Awards Conference.

In Turkey, the Turkish Medical Association faces another wave of attacks
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/852b64f7?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
against its activities, with all elected Central Council members being
removed by a court at the end of November. Despite attempts to curtail
their work, the physicians’ organization has vowed to continue fighting for
health workers’ rights.
------------------------------
In focus: Health in Palestine

*Health workers detained and tortured, hospitals under siege: The state of
health in Gaza*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/09482533?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

The number of functioning hospitals in the Gaza Strip is falling by the
hour as Israel continues targeted attacks against healthcare

*WHO Executive Board adopts resolution calling for unimpeded flow of aid
into Gaza*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/850dc56f?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

During discussions around the resolution, US representatives opposed calls
for a ceasefire, saying it would be “not only unrealistic but also
dangerous.” Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza has killed over 18,000 people

*More health workers, patients, killed in Gaza as US vetoes ceasefire
resolution*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/f1119470?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

The US once again vetoed a ceasefire resolution at the UN Security Council,
enabling more Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip
------------------------------
Featured articles

*The ‘brain drain’ is a symptom of how capitalism has failed the healthcare
sector*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/a6a67023?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

Every year, thousands of healthcare workers leave South Africa, in order to
chase better opportunities, as wealthier countries exploit desperate
working conditions faced by them. This brain drain is a direct result of
neoliberal policies, especially austerity

*Could Poland see a progressive health policy with the new Tusk government?*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/141d910a?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

As Poland prepares for a change in government, it remains unclear how the
new coalition will address concerns in the health system

*Chicago’s migrant communities forced to rely on mutual aid for healthcare*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/f58b6351?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

Health care provision for migrants in Chicago remains reliant on mutual aid
and volunteer initiatives as winter approaches. Over 21,000 migrants,
primarily from Latin America, have come to Chicago since August 2022

*Censorship of grassroots voices at global health conference raises
concerns*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/1d1e876f?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

The People’s Health Movement was removed from the organizing committee of
the Prince Mahidol Awards Conference following an article criticizing
presence of fossil fuel companies at public health events

*Turkish Medical Association confronts new wave of attacks*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/18fc4cd7?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

The board of the Turkish Medical Association was dissolved by a court
decision. This is the latest in a long list of repressive acts faced by the
organization
------------------------------
Short reads

*Largest health workers union in United States calls for ceasefire*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/cd25210d?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

Support for a ceasefire is growing among the US labor movement as 1199 SEIU
joins the global movement

*Climate breakdown to bring new challenges to health in the UK*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/6574d0ba?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

The global rise of temperatures is set to change the health landscape in
the UK, with the appearance of new and infectious diseases, growing risk of
antimicrobial resistance
------------------------------
In case you missed it
WTO: Prospects to adopt proposed decision text on the extension of the 17
June 2022 Ministerial Decision to Covid-19 therapeutics and diagnostics
appear grim - Knowledge Ecology International
On 4 December 2023, the World Trade Organization (WTO) published a document
(WT/GC/W/913, IP/C/W/694/Rev.1) entitled, “Decision text on extension of
the 17 June 2022 Ministerial Decision to COVID-19 therapeutics and
diagnostics”. This document is a communication from Bangaldesh, The
Plurinational… Continue Reading →
Knowledge Ecology International •Thiru
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/23f30739?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
In Jabalia camp, thousands shelter in one school
Refusing Israel’s orders to evacuate northern Gaza, Palestinians are
filling every available space amid growing threats of airstrikes and
service collapse.
+972 Magazine •Ben Reiff
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/caebcdde?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
Bulgaria’s health system in critical state due to staff shortage
Bulgaria lacks approximately 16,900 nurses for the health system to
function normally, according to a study by the Bulgarian Council for
Economic Analyses.
EURACTIV •Vasiliki Ang
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/666b881e?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
New catastrophic plight in Gaza: Israel’s attacks leave more than 5,000
Palestinians disabled
New catastrophic plight in Gaza: Israel’s attacks leave more than 5,000
Palestinians disabled
Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor •Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/c8e50c63?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
Biden to Big Pharma: Gouge Prices and We’ll Snatch Your Patents
Under a 43-year-old law, the feds can revoke drug patents if the company
acts against the public interest. Will Biden be the first to try?
The New Republic •Timothy Noah
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/ecf46424?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
Canada’s ‘haves-and-have-nots’ health system lags behind Europe, study finds
Research says funding cuts and poor organisation stop Canadians from
accessing healthcare – and 20% have no doctor at all
The Guardian •Tracey Lindeman
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/6c721a58?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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