Dossier
The human right to access to the best possible health, enshrined in the United Nations Charter of Human Rights, is denied to half the world’s population. Millions of people around the world die from diseases that could be easily cured with today’s medical science. In many parts of the world, there is a shortage of doctors and medical professionals, as well as hospitals and health posts. Access to vital medicines is highly unevenly distributed: One third of the world’s population has no access because patent rules in the interest of the pharmaceutical industry lead to high drug prices and prevent a fair distribution of vital medicines. Basic medical care has to be paid for out of one’s own pocket in many places, even in public hospitals – unaffordable for millions of people. The result: instead of a publicly accessible health system, health becomes a commodity for the privileged.
Medical undersupply is only one part of the global health crisis. All over the world, it is the social and political conditions that determine life and death far more than medical factors. The conditions under which we grow up, live, work and learn have a decisive influence on our health: two billion people have no access to clean drinking water. It is estimated that 20 million people die every year from poverty-related diseases. The sheer coincidence of where one is born determines life expectancy and opportunities, healing or suffering, life or death. Inequalities do not only run along geographical lines, but are also caused by socio-political factors. Poor people everywhere get sick more often and die earlier.
Global health policy therefore needs regulation of the prevailing economy. What is needed are not bi- and multilateral trade treaties to protect the interests of investors, but treaties with which the economy is hemmed in across borders according to social standards. Health care must become a public good to which everyone everywhere in the world is entitled.
Right to Health, United Nations
Financial Justice for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and ResponseNicoletta Dentico, Baba Aye, Mariska Meurs
Right to Health, Social Rights
More than just a brain drain – The great brain robberyJan Van Aken and Berit Köhler
International Politics, Right to Health, Social Rights, United Nations
The politics of a WHO pandemic treaty in a disenchanted worldNicoletta Dentico, Remco van de Pas, Priti Patnaik
Right to Health, Social Rights
Double Standards and Hazardous Pesticides from Bayer and BASFPeter Clausing, Lena Luig, Jan Urhahn, Wiebke Beushausen
Right to Health, Rights for Minority Groups, Social Rights
Situation assessment of statelessness, health, and COVID-19 in EuropeMarie-Claire Van Hout, Charlotte Bigland, Nina Murray
Dian Maria Blandina and Lauren Paremoer
Right to Health, Rights for Minority Groups, Social Rights
Covid-19 and access to health care for stateless persons: The perspective of Roma communities in MontenegroNevenka Kapičić and Andrija Đukanović
Right to Health, Social Rights
Solidary vaccination offers are absolutely the most important thing we have to take care of right nowClaudia Bernhard and Berit Köhler
International Politics, Right to Health, Social Rights
The ease of the virus in vaccine apartheidNicoletta Dentico
Chiara Giorgi
International Politics, Right to Health, Right to Peace
Health and political change in post-conflict societiesChiara Giorgi
International Politics, Right to Health, Social Rights, United Nations
Pretty Sick!Berit Köhler, Jan van Aken
International Organising, International Politics, Right to Health, Social Rights
Solidarity: Another COVID VictimAnne Jung
International Politics, Right to Health, United Nations
The COVID-19 pandemic & the reshaping of the international public health orderNicoletta Dentico
International Organising, International Politics, Right to Food, Right to Health, Right to Social Protection, Social Rights
The unions facing COVID-19: the Swiss experienceAlessandro Pelizzari
Right to Health, Social Rights, Socio-Ecological Transformation
Destruction of natural habitats fuels pandemics Jan van AkenInternational Organising, Right to Health, Social Rights
How COVID-19 has ignited new struggles over workers’ health and safety Mark BergfeldRight to Health, Right to Social Protection, Social Rights
Pandemic capitalismChristoph Butterwegge
Right to Health, Right to Social Protection, Social Rights, United Nations
Patents prevent vaccines for all Frederick Stambach, Julien Vernaudon, Frederic PierruRight to Health, Social Rights, United Nations
WHO Executive Board 148: A year after the Covid-19 public health emergencyGargeya Telakapalli
Right to a Healthy Environment, Right to Food, Social Rights, Socio-Ecological Transformation
Pesticides: An Expensive BusinessBASIC, CCFD-Terre Solidaire, Corporate Europe Observatory, European Environmental Bureau, Good Food Good Farming, INKOTA, Public Eye, Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung and SOS Faim
Right to Food, Right to Health, Right to Peace, Social Rights, United Nations
Social Rights Video SeriesRosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung