We are pleased that a paediatrician of the stature of Professor Oliver Ransome supports the argument in our letter that equitable distribution of health care is necessary for child health. But Professor Ransome also suggests that equitable distribution of health care can somehow be achieved without impinging on the freedom of those who can afford to choose private care. We challenge the view that such a market-based approach can promote equity in health care in South Africa today.
Health equity in economic and trade policies
Market forces promote inequitable health care
Sanders D, Reynolds L: The Sunday Independent, 16 July 2006
Understanding the links between agriculture and health
Hawkes C, Ruel MT: 2020 Vision for Food, Agriculture and the Environment 13 (1), May 2006
Policymaking initiatives in agriculture and public health are often pursued in a parallel and unconnected fashion. Yet coherent, joint action in agriculture and health could have large potential benefits and substantially reduce risks for the poor. Among development professionals there is growing recognition that agriculture influences health, and health influences agriculture, and that both in turn have profound implications for poverty reduction. This recognition suggests that opportunities exist for agriculture to contribute to better health, and for health to contribute to agricultural productivity. The policy briefs presented here draw on a wide body of research conducted within and outside the CGIAR. They provide a historical context to the links between agriculture and health, deal with specific health conditions and agricultural systems, and examine the challenges to linking agriculture and health in policy.
World leaders must deliver on AIDS promises
Dillon J: Toronto Star, 14 July 2006
Stephen Lewis, UN Special Envoy on AIDS in Africa, calls the failure of the G8 to live up to their promises a "scandalous betrayal". The triumphalism of Gleneagles has given way to shattered dreams and broken promises. At Gleneagles, the G8 promised to cancel the debt of some poor countries and to double development assistance to Africa by 2010. Both initiatives would provide resources for treating people with AIDS. Tragically, too little was promised at Gleneagles; even less has been delivered. By the time G8 leaders reconvened at St Petersburg this month, another 3 million people had perished from AIDS-related diseases.
Carmageddon: The hidden war between motor cars and people
Reynolds L: Critical Health Perspectives 3, June 2006
There is a silent, ongoing, global war between motor cars and people. It is silent because, though it kills many times more people than armed conflicts and terrorist acts combined, it seldom hits the headlines in the way they do. It is global because, though it started in the rich world just over a century ago, it has spread throughout the world and is now spreading like wildfire through poor countries;or poor communities within rich countries.
Crunch time in Geneva: Pressure tactics in the GATS negotiations
Sinclair S: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 21 June 2006
At the December 2005 Hong Kong ministerial meeting, developed countries forced through a controversial set of services demands thay prepared the ground for a final push to expand the GATS. This new paper analyses benchmarks, plurilateral request-offer, domestic regulation and other pressure tactics so that non-governmental organizations, elected representatives, developing countries and ordinary citizens can intervene to counter them.
Developing countries propose new TRIPS clause to avoid bio-piracy
Shashikant S: Third World Network, 8 June 2006
A long-standing fight by several developing countries to amend the WTO's TRIPS Agreement to oblige members to get patent applicants to disclose the source of origin of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge took a step forward in early June when six countries proposed the text of new provisions to be added to the TRIPS Agreement. The paper takes forward in a text for amending the TRIPS agreement what several developing countries had for several years been arguing for in various fora within the WTO (as well as outside the WTO (for example, in the Convention on Biological Diversity and the World Intellectual Property Organisation).
Human rights and the establishment of a WIPO Development Agenda
3D: June 2006
Over the past two years, discussions on a World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Development Agenda have provided a forum for Member States to challenge the current trends in intellectual property (IP) policy-making and work towards a system that is more consistent with development commitments and needs. The second session of the Provisional Committee on Proposals for a WIPO Development Agenda (PCDA), from 26 to 30 June 2006, will provide an opportunity for Member States to consider proposals in clusters of issues2 and submit a decision for a WIPO Development Agenda to the WIPO General Assembly in September 2006 that will dictate the future of these discussions.
Positions remain unchanged in TRIPS/CBD consultations
Raja K: Third World Network, 16 June 2006
A consultation held on 6 June at the WTO on the relationship between the TRIPS Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) ended with positions among members remaining unchanged on the issue of disclosure of the source of origin of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge. A paper was presented by Brazil, India, Pakistan, Peru, Thailand and Tanzania (joined by China and Cuba). But the US, Australia and others said that negotiation based on any text is premature, as there were differences in views.
The view from the Summit: Gleneagles G8 one year on
Global Policy Forum, 9 June 2006
The July 2005 G8 summit in Gleneagles delivered promises on debt, aid, trade, security and climate change. This report examines progress one year later. Debt cancellation has resulted in extra spending on health and education in poor countries, but is not reaching enough of the world's poor. Aid figures show huge increases but include large debt write-offs for Iraq and Nigeria. Oxfam is concerned that the growth in aid in key G8 nations is not enough to meet the promises made at Gleneagles.
WHA forms working group on IPRs and health R&D
Third World Network, 17 June 2006
After a negotiating process that lasted many days and that was closely watched by dozens of health and development NGOs, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on 27 May that established a working group to come up with a global strategy on intellectual property, health research and development, and new medicines for diseases that especially affect developing countries. The resolution was seen by many as the biggest achievement of this year's WHA, and was hailed by many public interest groups that had supported the developing countries, led by Kenya and Brazil, that had first advocated the resolution.