• Health inequalities

Health inequalities

Published by the Global Health Watch Secretariat, the Global Health Watch 2005/06 is the first “alternative world health report”, written from the perspective of civil society. It challenges the world’s major health institutions, addresses the causes of global inequality, and sets out measures for achieving adequate and equitable health for all. The report covers health and globalisation; health care services and systems; health of vulnerable groups; the wider health context; and the accountability of global institutions, including the World Health Organization (WHO), governments and corporations. In particular, it argues that the WHO is insufficiently resourced, and distracted from its core aims by internal management problems, the power games of rich nations, and too many uncoordinated initiatives.

The report calls on the world community to go further than the G8 summit in addressing debt, aid and trade. It calls for an end to the imposition of trade liberalisation on developing countries; and the establishing of an international tax authority to prevent corporate tax avoidance and fund health and development. It advocates a stronger voice for indigenous, disabled and other marginalised people in health and development decision-making. A ten-point action plan for effective health services includes abolishing user fees, reversing the commercialisation of health, and improving donor assistance within the health sector. [adapted from author]

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