Health

The statement that the national health service (Sistema Único de Saúde – SUS) is crumbling as private companies take over is shocking but is a fair reflection of the situation that is increasingly threatening public health care in Brazil.

PSI affiliates in Ukraine have condemned the government’s reform of the country’s healthcare system as haphazard, disorganised, and in flagrant violation of national legislation.

In March, PSI affiliate CFDT, France, held a week-long survey on staffing. The union received 2,587 responses to the survey; the level of results shows that French health care staff are keen to have their voices heard.

UNISON’s Mental Health Matters campaign aims to highlight the pressure faced by mental health services in the UK, and the impact this has on those accessing services. It also explores the mental health and wellbeing of staff providing the much-needed support, who also struggle to deal with their own stress while helping others.

PSI affiliates and civil society organisations held a two-day workshop on 2-3 April on the proposed free trade agreement Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RECP).

On the occasion of World Health Day 2017, PSI released its publications series, Non-Standard Work in the Healthcare Sector in South Asia. The series of publications aimed at disseminating information on the challenges facing the health workforce in the region, both in the public and private sector.

An unexpected epidemic in Liberia has highlighted the gaps that remain in the country’s capacity to react quickly and effectively. Health workers are demanding access to medical and laboratory equipment to avoid delays in diagnosis.

Germany has placed health in the centre of discussion during several international meetings. It will also be addressed at the G20 summit in Hamburg in July.

When the Human Rights Council met for its 34th session, Deputy High Commissioner Kate Gilmore described the right to health as “an enabler of other rights”.

PSI commenced the process of establishing official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) in May, 2017, to conclude this before the end of July. This is in line with the WHO Framework for Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA), established last year by the 69th World Health Assembly.