“…in international health cooperation” (Editorial)

Dear reader,

“Not without us! Youth and sexual and reproductive health in international cooperation”: This is the title of the upcoming symposium in Basel (1) organized by Medicus Mundi Switzerland. I am much interested in the topic and look forward to an inspiring Network event. And I am particularly happy with the element “in international cooperation” in the symposium’s title.

Too often, when we (“we” defined as organizations working in the field of international health cooperation) discuss international health issues such as reproductive health, human resources for health, universal health coverage, we focus on “them”: on the national health authorities in developing countries, on our local civil society partners, on the World Health Organization. And we are quick with critical assessments of “their” work as well as good advice how “they” could make it better. And with offering them our good services…

But what about our own role, our own track record? Also in this regard, Ebola has been an eye-opener: “The Ebola crisis poses some harsh questions. Has ‘development’ and the wider development business, including the research community in organisations like my own, been at fault, pushing failed development models based on poor understandings. Is ‘development’ in some ways culpable for the Ebola crisis?” (2)

At a more technical level, I am glad to see that there are efforts to revitalize the “NGO Code of Conduct for Health Systems Strengthening” (3). The Code was adopted in 2007, but since then never really operationalized nor further developed. The Code and the need to invest in better  accountability mechanisms for international health cooperation (not only NGOs, but also other actors) were discussed at several symposium sessions of the recent Third Global Symposium on Health Systems Research.

In the arena of international health cooperation, there is already a great number of thematic communities. But most of them have an focus on advocacy or on the promotion of particular initiatives, and there is still a lack of platforms and instruments where actors in international health cooperation critically assess (and account for) their own role, methods and contributions.

And I am not (only) talking about “aid effectiveness” or “harmonisation of donor practices”, but also about what is needed to finally overcome aid and achieve solidarity and cooperation.

Thomas Schwarz, Executive Secretary
Medicus Mundi International. Network Health for All

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References

  1. See below, Network events.
  2. Ebola: Difficult Questions for Development. Ian Scoones in: Huffington post
    http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ian-scoones/ebola-international-development_b_5975608.html
    More analytical papers on Ebola and international health: see below, MMI updates
  3. The NGO Code of Conduct for Health Systems Strengthening
    http://ngocodeofconduct.org/

 

MMI Network: Events, news and resources

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Network event: Medicus Mundi Switzerland
Health and Climate Change: What are the governance challenges?
Geneva, 27 October 2014

“Consider the following global realities: (1) An estimated 7 million deaths are attributed to air pollution every year; (2) rates of chronic diseases are accelerating worldwide; and (3) greenhouse gas emissions – responsible for the global climate crisis – rose the fastest in the past decade. – How are these linked and what are best approaches toward solving these global health and planetary challenges?” Conference organised by the Global Health Programme, The Graduate Institute in cooperation with the Global Health Institute, University of Geneva. The Graduate Institute is a member of Medicus Mundi Switzerland.

> http://graduateinstitute.ch/globalhealth-event27october

 

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Network event: MMS / MMI
“Not without us!”: Youth and sexual and reproductive health in international cooperation
Basel, 5-6 November 2014

This year’s MMI Network meeting is hosted by Medicus Mundi Switzerland (MMS) and linked with the 14th annual Swiss Health Cooperation Symposium organized by MMS. Registration is open now.

> www.medicusmundi.org/en/contributions/events/2014/sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights

 

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Network event: Medicus Mundi Switzerland
Sustainable healthcare interventions: from blueprint to lasting impact
Basel, 21 November 2014

“This year, the symposium celebrates our partners and examines how new approaches in philanthropy are going beyond traditional grant-making to drive sustainable healthcare interventions from blueprint to lasting impact.” Annual symposium of the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development, a member of the Network Medicus Mundi Switzerland.

> http://www.novartisfoundation.org/page/content/index.asp?MenuID=825&ID=2710&Menu=3&Item=45.18

 

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Conference report: Cordaid, Memisa, MMI
An ideal match! Successfully connecting NGO practice and Health Systems Research

Cape Town, 3 October 2014. The MMI Network participated in the Third Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Cape Town, South Africa, from 30 September to 3 October 2014, with a session on “An ideal match! Successfully connecting NGO practice and Health Systems Research.”

> www.bit.ly/mmi-evidence

 

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Network campaign: MMI
Universal Health Coverage Day, 12 December

“Two years ago on 12 December, the United Nations unanimously endorsed a resolution urging governments to ensure universal access to health care without financial hardship. On 12 December 2014, a global coalition will call for universal health coverage to be a cornerstone of the sustainable development agenda and a priority for all nations.” (Campaign website) According to a decision by its Board, the MMI Network joins this global UHC campaign and invites Network members to do the same.

> http://www.medicusmundi.org/en/contributions/campaigns/2014/universal-health-coverage-day-12-december
> http://www.universalhealthcoverageday.org/en/

 

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Network paper: Cordaid
Universal Health Coverage in fragile states

“Many of the debates on healthcare for everyone (universal health coverage) address the needs of middle-income countries and emerging economies. How to realize universal health coverage in fragile and transitional states is largely unknown. Therefore, Cordaid commissioned a study to investigate the possibilities. The two general aims of this qualitative study were to understand and advance universal health coverage (UHC) in fragile and transitional states and to articulate the specific roles which civil society organizations – from local to international – may play in the process.”

> https://www.cordaid.org/en/news/Healthcare-for-everyone/

 

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Network paper: Wemos
New medicines: For better or worse?

“A study in Germany, France and the Netherlands highlights an alarming trend: the majority of medicines granted marketing authorisation has no added therapeutic value (ATV) compared to medicines already on the market. In some cases the new medicine even did more harm than good. These are the results of a research conducted by Wemos and EPHA. The figures are based on evaluations of several international drug bulletins.” (Wemos, October 2014)

> http://www.wemos.nl/news/?v=2&lid=2&id=339&cid=5

 

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Network paper: ACHAP
Partnering with African Faith-Based Organizations for a strong health workforce

“This technical brief presents examples from the Africa Christian Health Associations Platform (ACHAP) and its members’ efforts to strengthen human resources for health (HRH) and integrate FBOs into national health systems and the HRH community. The brief highlights achievements in selected areas, provides lessons learned, and offers seven key recommendations for furthering FBOs’ efforts.” Technical brief by Capacity Plus, October 2014.

> http://www.capacityplus.org/technical-brief-16/

 

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Network reporting
Annual Report 2013 of DWA Cuamm

The annual report of Doctors with Africa Cuamm is available in Italian and English (both in one file).

> http://www.mediciconlafrica.org/blog/chi-siamo/relazione-annuale-2013/

 

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Network campaign: Health Poverty Action
“They heard us” – UK International Development Committee recommends health worker compensation

London, 1 October 2014. “Back in October 2013 we published a report and briefing, ‘Aid in Reverse’, focusing on the global health worker crisis and the UK’s role in perpetuating this situation. We are delighted to say that the message has started to be heard. The latest report released by the International Development Committee, a parliamentary committee that scrutinises the UK’s development work, picked up on our recommendation for compensation.”

> http://www.healthpovertyaction.org/news/idc-recommends-health-worker-compensation/

 

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Network campaign: Wemos
Protect nutrition and health in trade agreements!

Geneva/Amsterdam, 29 September 2014. “This week, a meeting took place in Geneva between Member States of the WHO and the FAO, about the intended outcomes of the International Conference on Nutrition, the ICN2. Wemos closely followed these negotiations. Together with a group of 150 NGOs, we made a statement about our main concerns. We would like to see a ‘Decade of Nutrition’, but with clear agreements. Wemos prioritizes policy coherence and protection of the policy space for measures that promote and protect public health and nutrition. This policy space is at risk in trade and investment treaties currently being negotiated.”

> http://www.wemos.nl/news/?v=2&lid=2&id=336&cid=14

 

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Network resource: MMI
NGO Research Toolbox

An “NGO Research Tool Box” available now online was developed by Nicole Moran as part of a Master Thesis in International Health at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and in coordination with the Medicus Mundi International Network.

> http://www.ngo-research-toolbox.org/

 

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Network resource: MMI
MMI global health updates on Twitter

Round numbers to celebrate: The updates by Medicus Mundi International on global health policy and governance, people-centred health systems, health cooperation are now followed by over 1000 interested Twitter users. Join in and keep yourself informed before you get the next issue of our monthly MMI Network news!

> https://twitter.com/MMI_Updates

 

International Health Policy: 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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Universal health coverage
Health systems strengthening
Health services, health financing

 

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Health policy and systems research

 

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Human resources for health
Migration of health professionals

 

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Access to medicines and vaccination
Medical research and development
Communicable diseases and diseases control

 

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Ebola situation and response
Ebola and health systems
Ebola and the state of global health governance

 

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Women’s and children’s health
Sexual and reproductive rights and health

MMI thematic guide:
www.bit.ly/mmi-mch

 

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Prevention and control of NCDs
Nutrition, Disabilities, Mental Health, Care

 

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Equity and human right to health
Social, political and economic determinants of health
Poverty and social protection

MMI thematic guide:
www.bit.ly/mmi_sdh

Twitter: #SDH, #HIAP

 

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Global health governance and policy

 

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World Health Organization
WHO reform and financing

 

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Health beyond 2015
MDGs and SDGs

 

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Development, aid, NGOs, international institutions

 

Follow the MMI Updates on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/mmi_updates