WHO

The recently released World Health Report on PHC (WHO Oct 2008) is an attempt to bring PHC again to the forefront of our priorities in global health. Good for that!

But the world has changed in these 30 years.

In 1978, we did not have:

Drug Action Forum - Karnataka is part of Janarogya Andolan Karnataka (a state unit of People's Health Movement - India http://phm-india.org/), member of AIDAN (All India Drug Action Network http://aidanindia.org/) and HAIAP (Health Action International Asia Pacific www.haiap.org).

Drug Action Forum - Karnataka is a registered, not for profit and independent organisation campaigning for Rational use Drugs and Vaccines.

From the media coverage of the report of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health, one might think it said nothing new. There are considerable inequalities in health, particularly between rich and poor. These arise from differences in incomes, access to health services, clean water, sanitation and education. There is a moral imperative to act on this social injustice. All of this could have been said at any time over the last 20 or 30 years.

At the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the 1978 Alma Ata Conference, Dr. Halfdan Mahler, who used to be the WHO director general at that time, talks about his love affair with the People's Health Movement. (Photo: WHO/Peter Williams)

Subtitles are available in Spanish and Arabic.

See video

 

 

The Community Working Group on Health and PHM Zimbabwe posted their analysis of health issues in Zimbabwe. The position paper includes more detailed analysis of the socio-economic background; the main current issues; the role of the state and some specific recommendations towards the realization of the right to health.

Health in Zimbabwe: PHM Zimbabwe Position Paper June 2008

At the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the 1978 Alma Ata Conference, Dr. Halfdan Mahler, who used to be the WHO director general at that time, talks about his love affair with the People's Health Movement.

Geneva, 25 May (Sangeeta Shashikant) -- The highlight of the 61st World Health Assembly was the adoption of a resolution that strengthens the mandate of the WHO to undertake work on the inter-related issues of public heath, intellectual property, innovation and access to medicines.

The resolution, adopted at the end of the WHA during the plenary session, last Saturday afternoon, covers the Global Strategy (GS) and agreed parts of the Plan of Action (POA) on Public Health, Innovation & Intellectual Property.

Geneva, 29 May (Sangeeta Shashikant) -- Both developed and developing countries vigorously questioned the WHO Secretariat during the WHO's Executive Board meeting on 26 May on its publications policy and called for further discussion on the matter.

Prior to the 61st World Health Assembly (WHA), the Third World Network (TWN) in collaboration with the People's Health Movement (PHM) and Health Action International (HAI) called for a civil society meeting. The meeting was held in Geneva on Sunday 18th May and discussed the civil society contribution during the 61st (19-24 May 2008).
The workshop was participated by around 50 participants from civil society organizations/networks, academic institutions and few official representatives. The discussions can be concluded as follows:

Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General
World Health Organisation
Avenue Appia 20

CH - 1211 Geneva 27

15 May 2008

Concerns Regarding WHO's publications policy

Dear Dr. Margaret Chan