Editorial: “Universal coverage is the ultimate expression of fairness”
Dear reader,
“Health systems financing: the path to universal coverage“ was the topic of the World Health Report 2010 (1). In 2012, universal health coverage (UHC, 2) has become a buzzword. After the Bangkok UHC conference in January (3), UHC enthusiast David Hercot stated: “Universal Health Coverage is in, Health Systems Strengthening is out” (4). And with her speech at the World Health Assembly in May, WHO Director General Margaret Chan took herself the lead in the “UHC movement”:
“In my view, universal coverage is the single most powerful concept that public health has to offer. It is our ticket to greater efficiency and better quality. It is our saviour from the crushing weight of chronic noncommunicable diseases that now engulf the globe. Universal coverage is the umbrella concept that demands solutions to the biggest problems facing health systems. That is: rising health care costs yet poor access to essential medicines, especially affordable generic products; an emphasis on cure that leaves prevention by the wayside; costly private care for the privileged few, but second-rate care for everybody else; grossly inadequate numbers of staff, or the wrong mix of staff; weak or inappropriate information systems; weak regulatory control, and schemes for financing care that punish the poor. Universal coverage is the hallmark of a government’s commitment, its duty, to take care of its citizens, all of its citizens. Universal coverage is the ultimate expression of fairness.” (5)
This is not only enthusiasm, but also strategic speaking: In order to save health as a key development issue after the “decade of global health” (2000-2010) it makes sense that the World Health Organization goes for incorporating health as “universal health coverage” into the post-MDG framework (6). In the draft Twelfth General Programme of Work of the WHO, UHC is already at the top, used to describe the expected overall impact of WHO’s work in the years 2014-2019. (7)
There is nothing wrong with this. The members of the Medicus Mundi International Network share the vision of access to health and health care as a fundamental human right (“Health for All”). We know that keep health care sustainable and affordable is a huge challenge, and we are convinced that a key strategy is to strengthen the health system as a whole. “Universal Health Coverage” is the way our vision and strategy are promoted these days, so let us be happy that things keep moving, and let us be part of a civil society movement towards UHC (8).
Thomas Schwarz, Executive Secretary
Medicus Mundi International Network
References:
- http://www.who.int/whr/2010/en/index.html
- See our new thematic guide: www.bit.ly/mmi-uhc
- http://bit.ly/xew9Zd
- http://e.itg.be/ihp/archives/uhc-is-in-hss-is-out
- http://www.who.int/dg/speeches/2012/wha_20120523/en/index.html
- http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/meetings/2012/sustainable_development/en/
- http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA65/A65_5Add1-en.pdf
- See below, network campaign
MMI Network news: Sharing knowhow and joining forces towards Health for All
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Network: Medicus Mundi International
Civil Society call for action on universal health coverage
A group of NGOs lead by Action for Global Health and including the MMI Network has been working on a common statement for UHC, asking for greater political support and promoting a joint movement for UHC. The call is available in Spanish, French and English. If your organisation wants to strengthen this global movement for UHC and endorse the call, please contact the campaign organizers at coordination@actionforglobalhealth.eu.
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Network: Medicus Mundi International
Global campaign for a Framework Convention on Global Health
At a conference at the Bellagio Center, in February 2012, a group of dedicated individuals and organizations decided to launch a global campaign for a Framework Convention on Global Health (FCGH) and therefore drafted the manifesto “Health for All: Justice for All”. The manifesto highlights the present historic opportunity for advancing the right to health and resolving today’s immense health inequities. It lays out key principles that an FCGH should incorporate, calls for these principles to be incorporated into the post-MDG framework, and emphasizes that the path towards an FCGH begins with communities, civil society, and all those committed to health and dignity for all. The executive secretary of the Medicus Mundi International Network participated in the Ballagio conference, contributed to the drafting of the manifesto and endorsed it afterwards on behalf of MMI. Network members and partners are invited to have a look at the manifesto, sign it individually, and get involved in the campaign for a Framework Convention on Global Health.
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Event: MMI Network with members and partners
The role of NGOs in national health systems and global health policy
Workshop at the People’s Health Assembly, Cape Town, 7-8 July 2012
The workshop organized by a group of NGOs and NGO networks provides a space for critical reflections on the role and the future of NGOs, linking the discussion on the integration of NGOs in national health systems with debates on the role of NGOs in global health governance and in civil society: What does it need to make NGOs part of the solution and not the problem? First module „The role of NGOs in national health systems and global health policy” on 7th July; second module “NGOs – the good, the bad and the evil?” on 8th July.
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Network news: ACHAP
ACHAP attains status of an international faith based NGO with mandate in Africa
The Africa Christian Health Associations’ Platform (ACHAP) has yet again achieved another organizational development milestone by attaining the status of an international faith based NGO with mandate in Africa, following the issuance of a Certificate of Registration by the Government of Kenya on 4th May 2012. ACHAP has been issued registration under the NGOs Coordination Act of 1990. This marks a significant milestone in the organizational development of ACHAP, which had since its inception operated under the legal umbrella of the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK).
http://www.africachap.org/x5/images/stories/fruit/achap%20legal%20registration.pdf
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Network news
Welcome to HealthNet TPO
The Annual General Assembly of the Medicus Mundi International Network in Geneva, on 25 May 2012, admitted HealthNet TPO as a new Network member. Welcome! Meeting participants were mainly impressed by the profile of HealthNet TPO as a knowledge-driven organization: “This means our activities are based on scientific research and we continuously monitor their efficiency. We also develop new methods to improve the health of people in distress, which are regularly adopted by colleague organizations.”
HealthNet TPO: http://www.healthnettpo.org
MMI Assembly: www.medicusmundi.org/en/contributions/events/2012/mmi-assembly
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Network resource:
HealthNet TPO and research
Research is necessary to create a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms that cause the needs and (health) problems of individuals and communities living in fragile states and low income countries. Research in this context needs to be participative and action and solution oriented to produce the options for action and the evidence for specific interventions. The production of evidence is only the first step towards the application and implementation of sound health policies. Research within HealthNet TPO is also used to develop procedures to translate knowledge in activities that change health policies. Learn more about HealthNet TPO’s methodologies and themes in research activities, the organization’s research publications and current research projects:
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Network news: MMI
medico international will join the Medicus Mundi International Network
The German NGO medico international submitted an application for membership in the Medicus Mundi International Network to the MMI secretariat. medico international, based in Frankfurt am Main, is supporting partners all around the world financially and through networks of solidarity: “We are working with a human rights based approach to achieve the right to health for all. Alongside with emergency relief work and the support of local initiatives, public relations such as campaigning, advocacy and networking on topics like global health, Israel/Palestine or the ill effects of land grabbing play an important role in our daily work.” The formal decision on the admission of medico international will be taken by the extraordinary Assembly on the MMI Network in Amsterdam, on 10 October 2012.
medico international: http://www.medico.de/en/
Amsterdam Network meeting: http://bit.ly/mmi-2012-amsterdam
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Network resource: i+solutions
ATM access: pharmaceutical market updates on essential medicines
ATM access is an online platform supported by i+solutions that provides access to pharmaceutical market information on HIV/Aids, TB and Malaria and relevant health topics.
“We are very happy to share with you a new project initiated by i+solutions. ATM access is an online platform that provides access to pharmaceutical market information on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria and relevant health topics with a focus on low- and middle income countries. Stay up-to-date, connect with the online community, share experience and enhance your market intelligence’s knowledge.”
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Network project: Doctors with Africa Cuamm
Global Health: Ideas on education and public awareness
“The boost given by the first edition of the European project ‘Equal opportunities for health’, set in motion a participatory process involving universities, lecturers, students and organizations sensitive to the subject of Global Health and determined to spread its teaching. This gave rise to the establishment, in 2009, of RIISG, a network devoted to training students and professionals. The desire to build a larger network beyond the national borders laid the foundations for a second, currently ongoing European project (2011-2014). We now collaborate with universities and organizations from Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Hungary and Malta.” (Cuamm 2012)
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Network conference report
WHO reform: Democratic pathways for a sustainable leadership
in global health. Geneva, 23 May 2012
The WHA side event hosted by the Medicus Mundi International Network for the Democratising Global Health Coalition on the WHO Reform (DGH) provided the venue for an open and public dialogue on issues that civil society organizations consider critical for building a healthy future for the WHO. The panel also presented some ways forward to be considered by member states to ensure WHO’s policy leadership on health, its ultimate responsibility.
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MMI Network and members
Annual Reports 2011
Medicus Mundi International, Cordaid, EPN, Medicus Mundi Switzerland, Memisa and Smile Train Italy recently published annual reports on their websites. The collection on the MMI ePlatform will be completed in the next months.
Medicus Mundi International: available in English
Cordaid: available in Dutch
EPN: available in English
Medicus Mundi Switzerland: available in German and French
Memisa: available in French and Dutch
Smile Train Italy: available in English
Annual reports on the MMI ePlatform: collection
Global Health: MMI updates
Bits and pieces of news on international health policy: each “MMI update” is 140 characters or less – these are the rules of the game on twitter. Just enough for a headline, eventually an author, a date, the source – and a link to the website where you find the full information. Have a look at some of our “tweets” published during the last month. As usual, it’s a bit much, so take it or leave it.
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Health systems strengthening
Health services, health financing
Universal health coverage
- Universal Health Coverage ripe for leadership. Robert Marten
http://uhcforward.org/blog/2012/jun/11/universal-health-coverage-ripe-leadership - Robin Hood Tax on financial transactions to promote global health, sustainable human and environmental development
http://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/blog/?p=1685 - The role of fiscal policy in tackling the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa. John C. Anyanwu et al., AFDB 2012
http://bit.ly/MqLdI8 - The cupboard is full: Public finance for public services in the Global South. Ronnie D. Lipschutz & Sarah T. Romano http://www.municipalservicesproject.org/sites/municipalservicesproject.org/files/publications/Lipschutz-Romano_The_Cupboard_is_Full_May2012_FINAL.pdf
- NTD control and health system strengthening. Filip Meheus et al.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2812%2960943-X/fulltext - National health insurance in Asia and Africa. Advancing equitable social health protection to achieve UHC. Unicef 2012
http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/index_62472.html - What can be learned from China’s health system? Lancet themed issue
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2812%2960874-5/fulltext - What are the barriers to scaling up health interventions in low and middle income countries? Gavin M Yamey
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/content/8/1/11/abstract - The sector-wide approach and universal health coverage: friends or foes? Vincent R. Okungu
http://e.itg.be/ihp/archives/sector-wide-approach-universal-health-coverage-friends-foes - The Health System Dynamics Framework: introduction of model and application to two case-studies. J van Olmen et al.
http://hcs.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/hcs/article/view/71/96 - How does HIV/AIDS funding affect a country’s health system? Victoria Fan
http://blogs.cgdev.org/globalhealth/2012/05/how-does-hivaids-funding-affect-a-countrys-health-system.php
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Equity and human right to health
Social determinants of health
- Towards global health equity: opportunities and threats. Luis Sambo, Director of WHO Regional Office for Africa http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/18842/html
- Socioeconomic inequalities in mortality: do they reflect inequalities in access or quality of health care? Iris Plug et al.
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2458-12-346.pdf - Policy making with health equity at its heart. Michael G. Marmot
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1157498 - Dimensions of gender equity in health in East and Southern Africa. Eleanor MacPherson et al., Equinet 2012
http://www.equinetafrica.org/bibl/page.php?record=2037 - Achieving equity in global health: So near and yet so far. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta and K. Srinath Reddy
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1157501 - Health systems, health, wealth and societal well-being. Investing in health systems. Josep Figueras & Martin McKee ed. http://www.euro.who.int/en/who-we-are/partners/observatory/studies/health-systems,-health,-wealth-and-societal-well-being.-assessing-the-case-for-investing-in-health-systems
- Some conceptual issues concerning the right to health approach. People’s Health Movement
http://www.phmovement.org/sites/www.phmovement.org/files/PHM%20position%20Paper%20RTH%20final%20draft.pdf
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Human resources for health
- Health workers are change agents. Pape Gaye
http://www.devex.com/en/news/health-workers-are-change-agents/78390 - Diminishing psychiatric health workforce: Global health community must care more about mental health. Emilia Chiscop
http://www.intrahealth.org/page/the-diminishing-psychiatric-health-workforce-why-the-global-health-community-needs-to-care-more-about-mental-health - What’s the best way to retain a health worker? Just ask her! Kate Tulenko
http://www.disruptivewomen.net/2012/05/10/whats-the-best-way-to-retain-a-health-worker-just-ask-her/ - Brain drain and health workforce distortions in Mozambique. Kenneth Sherr et al.
http://www.healthallianceinternational.org/media/publications/scientific_papers/Brain_Drain_Mozambique.pdf
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Health research
- Africa must turn its health research into treatments for African people. Carel IJsselmuiden
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/jun/11/africa-health-research-treatments - Should NGOs be shapers, producers, or consumers of research? Academic-practitioner research collaboration. R. Hayman
http://www.intrac.org/blog.php/23/should-ngos-be-shapers-producers-or-consumers-of-research-reflections-on-academic-practitioner-resea - Is operational research delivering the goods? The journey to success in low-income countries. Rony Zachariah et al.
http://download.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/laninf/PIIS1473309911703097.pdf
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Access to medicines and vaccination
Intellectual property rights, free trade agreements and public health
Communicable diseases, neglected tropical diseases
- Fighting neglect. MSF report and video on Neglected Tropical Diseases, June 2012
http://www.msfaccess.org/about-us/media-room/press-releases/neglected-tropical-diseases-new-msf-report-highlights-how-break - China changes patent law in fight for cheaper drugs. Tan Ee Lyn
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/08/us-china-medicines-patents-idUSBRE8570TY20120608 - India pharmacy steams ahead against multinational companies’ control. Daniele Dionisio
http://e.itg.be/ihp/archives/india-pharmacy-steams-multinational - The business of HIV: Battling the virus. A huge, strange drug market
http://www.economist.com/node/21556275 - Getting to zero AIDS-related deaths: TRIPS and the potential impact of free trade agreements. UNAIDS feature story
http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2012/june/20120601tripsftas/ - The potential impacts of free trade agreements on public health. Joint UNDP and UNAIDS issue brief, June 2012
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/hiv-aids/issue-brief–the-potential-impact-of-free-trade-agreements-on-pu/ - Why polio just became a global health crisis—and a global governance crisis
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/05/why-polio-just-became-a-global-health-crisis-and-a-global-governance-crisis/257761/
World Health Assembly: Medicines R&D resolution and CEWG proposal
- Final report of the WHO CEWG on Research and Development
http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA65/A65_24-en.pdf - The World Health Organization negotiations on a new medical R&D treaty.
Commentaries collected by Jamie Love http://keionline.org/node/1424 - KEI statement on the WHA R&D resolution:
http://keionline.org/node/1422 - Binding R&D convention put on hold. Roger Collier
http://www.cmaj.ca/site/earlyreleases/29may12_binding-rd-convention-put-on-hold.xhtml - A binding biomedical R&D convention: a structural solution for systemic failure. HAI/Alianza policy brief
http://haieurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/14-May-HAI-Alianza-Policy-Brief-RD-Final.pdf - Innovation and Access to Medicines: Could a treaty address a broken pharmaceutical R&D system? Suerie Moon et al.
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001218 - Public health & intellectual property: A new deal for global health R&D? The WHO CEWG recommendations. Røttingen/Chamas http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001219
- Public health & intellectual property: Is the WHO CEWG proposal for the R&D treaty “too small”? James Love
http://keionline.org/node/1405 - How a global R&D convention could fill the gaps left by today’s system. MSF
http://www.msfaccess.org/content/how-global-rd-convention-could-fill-gaps-left-todays-medical-innovation-system - Why an essential health R&D convention is needed. DNDi
http://www.dndi.org/images/stories/advocacy/DNDi_Policy_brief_CEWG_lowres.pdf
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Women’s and children’s health
Reproductive health
- Will the agenda for child survival survive? Victoria Fan
http://blogs.cgdev.org/globalhealth/2012/06/will-the-agenda-for-child-survival-survive.php - A guide to family planning for community health workers and their clients. Sarah Johnson et al., WHO 2012
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2012/9789241503754_eng.pdf - Lancet special issue highlights reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH)
http://www.who.int/pmnch/media/news/2012/20120608_lancet_specialissue/en/index.html - A decade of change for newborn survival. Save the Children 2012
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=8rKLIXMGIpI4E&b=7942601&ct=11797543 - Building a future for women and children. Countdown to 2015 report. WHO/UNICEF 2012
http://www.countdown2015mnch.org/documents/2012Report/2012Countdown-Report.pdf
- Bending the curve in child survival. Orin Levine
http://blogs.cgdev.org/globalhealth/2012/06/bending-the-curve-in-child-survival.php - Every child deserves a 5th birthday. Campaign and “Child Survival Call to Action” event in Washington, 14/15 June
http://5thbday.usaid.gov/pages/ResponseSub/Event.aspx - Levels & trends in child mortality. Report 2011. Estimates by UN inter-agency group for child mortality estimation
http://www.childinfo.org/files/Child_Mortality_Report_2011.pdf - Keeping promises for women and children. Carole Presern et al.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2812%2960653-9/fulltext - Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health: Progress Report 2010-2011. World Health Organization, May 2012
http://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/documents/progress_report_201011/en/index.html
- Accelerating the global response to reduce maternal mortality. Tore Godal and Lois Quam
http://www.lancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2812%2960863-0/fulltext - Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2010, UNFPA
http://bit.ly/KfQFZg - Global, regional, and national causes of child mortality: an updated systematic analysis for 2010. Liu et al.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2812%2960560-1/fulltext#
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Rio+20 Conference
- The future we want: a healthier planet. WHO statement for Rio+20
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2012/rio20_20120619/en/index.html - Health at the heart of Rio + 20: Key messages, WHO events, report on health indicators of sustainable development
http://new.paho.org/tierra/ - Reproductive health the key to Rio+20. Call by members of the Global Leaders Council for Reproductive Health
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jun/15/reproductive-health-key-rio20 - Rio+20: we need to agree a new vision and a single process for action. Stephen Hale
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/jun/13/rio20-vision-process-action - Can environment and development really come together next week in Rio? Duncan Green
http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10459 - Leaked Rio+20 Earth Summit document shows strong commitment to universal health coverage / health systems. N Wellington
http://uhcforward.org/blog/2012/jun/10/leaked-rio-20-earth-summit-document-shows-strong-commitment-universal-health-covera - The future we want. Draft Rio +20 Earth Summit document
http://www.scribd.com/doc/96419644/Draft-of-UN-Rio-20-main-text - Rio +20 Health Cluster: Health as a critical foundation of sustainable development
http://ngorioplus20.wikispaces.com/file/view/Health+and+the+Green+Economy+-+Rio+%2B20+Health+Cluster.pdf - From the Earth Summit to Rio+20: integration of health and sustainable development. Andy Haines et al.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2812%2960779-X/abstract - Sustainable development for health: Rio and beyond. The Lancet editorial
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2812%2960923-4/fulltext - Why human health and health ethics must ne central to climate change deliberations. Jerome Amir Singh
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001229 - Connecting the global climate change and public health agendas. Maria Nilsson et al.
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001227 - Rio+20’s opportunity will be squandered without courage and vision. Gro Harlem Brundtland and Fernando Henrique Cardoso
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/may/28/rio-20-opportunity-courage-vision
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Global health governance and policy
Development goals beyond 2015
- MDGs 2.0: what goals, targets, and timeframe? Jonathan Karver, Charles Kenny, and Andy Sumner, CGDev 2012
http://www.cgdev.org/files/1426271_file_Kenny_Karver_MDGs_FINAL.pdf - How to address the challenge to improve health and well-being worldwide. Global Health inaugural edition, May 2012
http://www.newsdeskmedia.com/files/Global-Health-2012.pdf - Five steps to improving global governance for health. Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre
http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/Whats-new/Speeches-and-articles/speeches_foreign/2012/global_health.html?id=682664 - Debate: Reshaping global health. Time for a structural and philosophical shift. Mark Dybul, Peter Piot and Julio Frenk
http://www.hoover.org/publications/policy-review/article/118116 - Debate: “Reshaping global health” – a radical proposal for global health? Andrew Harmer
http://www.globalhealthpolicy.net/?p=860 - Global Health – beyond 2015. Call for papers, by Lancet, Global Health Action and Swedish Society of Medicine
http://www.co-action.net/news/GHA_Lancet_call.pdf - Multiple crises and global health: New and necessary frontiers of health politics. Ted Schrecker
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17441692.2012.691524 - Sustainable Development Goals and the relationship to a post 2015 global development. Beyond 2015 policy paper
http://www.beyond2015.org/sites/default/files/Beyond%202015%20MDG-SDG%20relationship%20FINAL%20May%202012.pdf - A World in transition: charting a new path in global health. Speech by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Oslo, 1 June 2012
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/06/191633.htm - Global Health: Discarding the shroud of defeatism. Richard Horton
http://www.lancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2812%2960836-8/fulltext - Global health — an end of term report. Richard Horton
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2812%2960823-X/fulltext - What indicators reveal about interest in global health: the World Health Statistics Report. Victoria Fan
http://blogs.cgdev.org/globalhealth/2012/05/interests-and-indicators-in-global-health-the-world-health-statistics-report.php - A Framework Convention on Global Health: health for all, justice for all. Lawrence O. Gostin
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/pdfaccess.ashx?ResourceID=3124859&PDFSource=13 - Global health governance and financing mechanisms. Samantha Battams and Thiago Luchesi, May 2012
http://www.globalhealtheurope.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=480:global-health-governance-and-financing-mechanisms&catid=82:ghe-position-statement&Itemid=109 - UN appoints high-level panel to advise on approaches to development after the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=41961&Cr=sustainable+development&Cr1=
65th World Health Assembly and WHO reform
- Best days for public health are ahead of us, says WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan at the World Health Assembly
http://www.who.int/dg/speeches/2012/wha_20120521/en/index.html - 65th World Health Assembly – overview on decisions. WHO news release
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2012/wha65_closes_20120526/en/index.html - Reinventing the World Health Organization. Thomas Bollyky
http://www.cfr.org/global-health/reinventing-world-health-organization/p28346 - Healthy governance. How the WHO can regain its relevance. Devi Sridhar et al.
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/137662/by-devi-sridhar-lawrence-o-gostin-and-derek-yach/healthy-governance?page=2
- Donors tighten their grip on WHO’s agenda. Report from PHM’s WHO Watch. David Legge
http://phm.phmovement.org/pipermail/phm-exchange-phmovement.org/20120521/012400.html - Urgent need for WHO’s reform to prioritise core functions. Mohga Kamal-Yanni and Philippa Saunders
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2812%2960810-1/fulltext
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The role of NGOs and international aid agencies
- Debate: Aid agencies limit their impact by refusing to fund the media. Prue Clarke
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/jun/07/aid-agencies-limit-impact-fund-media?intcmp=122 - Debate: Having aid agencies fund journalists is the worst idea ever for aid journalism. Tate Watkins
http://tatemwatkins.com/post/24682244302/having-aid-agencies-fund-journalists-is-the-worst-idea - How can aid agencies promote local governance and accountability? Lessons from five countries. D. Green on Oxfam series
http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10309
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Noncommunicable diseases
Mental health
- WHO QualityRights Project and Tool Kit: Tools to help stop abuse of people with mental health conditions http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2012/mental_health_20120615/en/index.html
- Primary care management of noncommunicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries. John Walley et al.
http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/90/6/12-106674/en/index.html - Priorities for developing countries in the global response to non-communicable diseases. Dermot Maher et al.
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/content/8/1/14/abstract - Putting evidence into practice. PLoS Medicine series on global mental health practice and call for case studies
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001226
- Debate (1): The case for a global coordinating platform for NCDs. NCD Alliance discussion paper http://ncdalliance.org/sites/default/files/rfiles/Discussion%20Paper%20The%20Case%20for%20a%20Global%20Coordinating%20Platform.pdf
- Debate (1): Concerns about the NCD Alliance proposal for a Global Platform on NCDs. Patti Rundall
http://phm.phmovement.org/pipermail/phm-exchange-phmovement.org/20120519/012391.html - Debate (2): Tackling NCDs: a different approach is needed. Jan De Maeseneer et al. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2811%2961135-5/fulltext
- Debate (2): Tackling NCDs: a different approach is needed. Robert Beaglehole and Ruth Bonita,Lancet NCD Action Group
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2812%2960800-9/fulltext - World Health Statistics are out for 2012! They have a new focus on noncommunicable diseases.
http://ow.ly/aYVEt
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Other topics
- Clinical trials have gone global: Is this a good thing? Trudie Lang and Sisira Siribaddana
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001228;jsessionid=2DE253844FF3F0A5081EA8DA69C2EBFB - Priority Setting in Health: Building Institutions for Smarter Public Spending — Amanda Glassman
http://blogs.cgdev.org/global_prosperity_wonkcast/2012/06/11/priority-setting-in-health-amanda-glassman/ - Afghanistan: Improving access to mental health care & psychosocial support within a fragile context. Ventevogel et al.
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001225 - Big Food, food systems, and global health. David Stuckler and Marion Nestle
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001242 - Confronting the tobacco epidemic in a new era of trade and investment liberalization. WHO 2012
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2012/9789241503723_eng.pdf
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