Rich country donors and the World Bank are wasting money and risking lives by continuing to push unproven and discredited private health care programs in poor countries, says Oxfam International.
As part of a recent presentation to the World Bank, Oxfam shared a short but powerful video (English only) on the state of private health care in India.
Oxfam found “aid donors and the World Bank are wasting money and risking lives by pushing unproven and discredited private health care programs in developing countries.” The group is calling on rich donor countries and the bank to “put public first, and provide health care for all.”
The findings are part of a new report challenging the myths about private health care in poor countries. Blind optimism assembles compelling evidence about the failure of privately-delivered health care, expanding the case against private involvement in any area of health care financing, operation, management or delivery.
Oxfam campaigner Nancy Holden writes that “it’s incredible that there are more Indian doctors in the UK National Health Service than in the Indian public health care system. For me, this shows that when public health systems are neglected and staff underpaid the resulting ‘brain drain’ can have huge consequences for people living in poverty.”
Public services like health care, education, water and sanitation are powerful anti-poverty tools that will transform lives –in particular for girls and women.
To learn more and join Oxfam Canada and CUPE’s public services “For all” campaign visit www.oxfam.ca.
Public Services International’s newly-launched women, water, workers and health campaign is another important resource on the issue.
This year’s campaign has a special focus on health and, in particular, the link between quality public water and health services and their impact on women. PSI is calling on affiliates to take action between March 8, International Women’s Day, and March 22, World Water Day.