Editorial: Economic determination of health policies and governance
Dear reader,
For once, this editorial is mostly done as “copy and paste”: Representatives of civil society organizations will meet in Geneva, on 20 January, for an open brainstorming meeting ahead of the 140th session of the WHO Executive Board as part of a series of civil society events. The organizers will provide only a rough structure (theme, initial references, facilitators), as they do not want to replicate the “experts” – “public” modus of providing initial input and inviting for replies. Moving immediately into a debating mode, all participants are expected to be experts and committed to engage in a dialogue.
The topic for this debate will be “Let’s talk: Economic determination of health policies and governance”. The following initial references are quoted from the concept note (still considered being “work in progress”):
- We all know about the domination of ‘big money’ in setting the global health agenda for which there are numerous examples and references. Just to mention a few: Rich countries’ security interest led to better crisis management (Ebola) instead of creating strong health systems; with FENSA, WHO accommodates corporate lobbyists in WHO governance processes; the vertical ‘partnership’ and ‘multi-stakeholder’ mode of dealing with global health issues has become mainstream. – How to defend multilateralism and how to promote the voices and interests of people?
- The “marketing” approach on positioning WHO (and other organizations) within a global health governance system. According to most of the WHO DG candidates, the organization must become more efficient, must provide ‘value for money’ and clearly position itself and its programs in a strategic niche. But what WHO do we want? And how much money (debate on increasing assessed contributions) and what leadership (election of new DG) are needed for this WHO we want? And who should pay for it?
- A remarkable re-emergence of the macroeconomic discourse in global health policies: The “investment case” for health (examples: UHC, health workforce) has become absolutely dominating in political fora and leading publications. This ‘selling argument’ is tempting, as it shows some good results. So how to deal with this discourse and its ambivalence? How to defend the case for health as a human right or as a shared responsibility (global good) – among ourselves and publicly?
- “An overall “management” approach to health policies and planning: Everything is now about monitoring and accountability and there are enthusiastic debates on data requirements and outcome indicators which replace a sound political dialogue on what is the problem (including diverging interest of key actors), what change is exactly needed and how to achieve it. What are the implications of the transition from human rights accountability to mutual accountability and multistakeholderism? – Take UHC or AMR as examples. ‘New Public Management’ was introduced by Thatcher as a tool for privatization, deregulation and depoliticization, and this is what we experience today. How to cope with the privatization of policy making?
- …and finally: Economic power and economic determination of civil society processes and voices: who sits at our tables and in the big global fora? How to overcome the imbalance in deliberation and representation?”
I am very much looking forward to this dialogue. The MMI Network co-hosts the brainstorming meeting as a member of the planning team for the civil society events ahead of the WHO EB Session and as secretariat of the Geneva Global Health Hub, the main organizer of this meeting. The discussion on the economic determination of health policies and governance is also relevant for our Network, so I hope that some of the MMI members and partners can make it to Geneva. It would be nice to see you there!
Thomas Schwarz, Executive Secretary
Medicus Mundi International – Network Health for All
P.S. for Network members: If you want to attend the WHO EB Session as a member of the MMI delegation, please register before 14 January at the MMI secretariat.
MMI Network: Events, news, papers and resources
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Network news: Wemos/MMI Network
Access to health: a shared responsibility
“On 14-15 December 2016 a High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Health Employment and Economic Growth: From Recommendations to Action took place in Geneva. Linda Mans, global health advocate at Wemos, was present as coordinator of the working group on Human Resources for Health of Medicus Mundi International.” (Source: Wemos)
> https://www.wemos.nl/en/investing-in-health-workforce-a-shared-responsibility/
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Network news: Community Working Group on Health
Congratulations to CWGH – winner of the Africa NGO Leadership Award
“The Community Working Group on Health, Zimbabwe’s leading health advocacy group, was conferred with this year’s glamorous Africa NGO Leadership Award for its outstanding achievements in the health sector at the 6th Edition of the Africa Leadership Award held at Le Meridian Hotel in Mauritius. The award, which is given to those that make a difference to the lives of others, was received by CWGH Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike. The CWGH, which was established in 1998, was recognised for leading and giving visibility to community processes in health in Zimbabwe.” (Source: CWGH website). – Congratulations to our Zimbabwean Network member!
> http://www.cwgh.co.zw/cwgh-wins-africa-ngo-leadership-award/
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Network paper: Medicus Mundi Switzerland
Ageing Societies and Health
A themed issue of the Bulletin of Medicus Mundi Switzerland – with contributions in English, German and French.
> http://www.medicusmundi.ch/en/bulletin/mms-bulletin/ageing-societies-and-health?set_language=en
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Network paper: Wemos
Health should be affordable for all
“‘Act with Ambition!’ was the slogan for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day 2016. The aim of UHC is nothing short of ambitious: guaranteeing access to essential – and affordable – health services for all. It is one of the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), or Agenda2030, which nearly every country worldwide has agreed to a year ago. Wemos, too, believes UHC is something that should be attained. “ UHC Day article by Barbara Fienieg & Corinne Hinlopen, Wemos
> https://www.wemos.nl/en/health-care-should-be-financially-accessible-for-all/
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Network paper: Cordaid
Health for all, but not for me
“We never met, yet we fight for the same cause. We shake hands in this blog post and speak with one voice. Against global inequality, exemplified by the gap between both of us, and in favor of universal health coverage.” UHC Day blog by Remco van der Veen, Cordaid
> https://www.cordaid.org/en/news/health-for-all-but-not-for-me/
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Network paper: Doctors with Africa CUAMM
Beira: Researchers on a neonatology visit
“A delegation of Italian and Norwegian research workers recently visited Beira Central Hospital and sites where Doctors with Africa CUAMM is working.” (CUAMM news)
> http://www.mediciconlafrica.org/en/our-voice/news/beira-researchers-on-a-neonatology-visit/
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Network paper: Federation of Medicus Mundi Spain
Health in development cooperation and human action. Report 2016
The “Health in development cooperation and human action report” made by Medicus Mundi Spain and Médicos del Mundo was published for the first time in 2002. The 2016 report (language: Spanish) can be found on the website of Medicus Mundi Spain.
> http://www.medicusmundi.es/es/actualidad/noticias/702
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Network project:
HealthNet in Colombia
“On November 1st HealthNet TPO, in a consortium with ICCO en Mensen met een Missie, started a new project in Colombia. In this project we go to areas that have been heavily affected by the Colombian conflict. We use different models of intervention for this, including and encompassing the entire community in the intervention. Together with networks of people we will identify and work on the problems that they face and look for proper solutions.” (Source: HealthNet News)
> http://www.healthnettpo.org/en/1802/healthnet-in-colombia.html
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Network reporting: Health Poverty Action
Annual Review 2015-16
“To us health is very much an issue of social justice and not a narrow medical one. We feel deeply privileged to work alongside such talented and committed staff, partners and people in communities around the world, and hope you enjoy reading about all we have achieved together in the past year.” – The Annual Review 2015-16 of Health Poverty Action is available in English.
> https://www.healthpovertyaction.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Annual-Review-2015-16.pdf
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Network promotion
Six good reasons for joining the MMI Network
“Medicus Mundi International – Network Health for All (MMI) is a network of organizations working in the field of international health cooperation and global health. The Network promotes access to health and health care as a fundamental human right and supports the efforts undertaken in this respect by its members. There are some good reasons to join in…”