Call for action to defend the right to health and
fight the privatisation of health services
European Social Forum
London, 15 october 2005
The
participants of the health seminars at the ESF in London propose that
the Assembly of Social Movements embrace, as a priority, a campaign for
the right to health and against privatisation of health services in
Europe. The denial of the right to health, which is an outcome of
neoliberal policies, has dramatic consequences for people in Europe.
Neoliberal
health policy has transformed people’s health into a profit making
commodity. The attack on public health systems and the privatisation of
health services throughout Europe prevents many citizens accessing
health care.
Privatised services are more expensive and less
accessible. Furthermore, independent research is obstructed by market
philosophy as funding is dominated by corporate interests.
The Treaty of the European Constitution excludes the right to health which exists in many State constitutions.
The
participants of the seminars declare their absolute opposition to this
treaty. They consider it to be the product of collusion between banks
and economic power and does not take the people of Europe into account.
This is why we urge you to vote against the Treaty in State referendums.
We also reject all similar agreements especially the Bolkestein Directive which makes GATS worse.
The
networks that organised the health seminars were the People’s Health
Movement and the European Network for the Right to Health supported by
the Global Health Watch. PHM, GHW, ENRH are fighting for the right to
free access to public health services without discrimination.
They
are strugling to establish public health services in all countries,
without any charge, that respond to the health care needs of the
population.
The participants struggle against fortress Europe
which denies the rights of immigrants to access healthcare and their
right to live in dignity. This is why the networks propose to build a
specific space for health at the Mediterranean Social Forum, 16-19 June
2005.
In addition, we are working with Latin American, African
and Asian networks in preparation for the International Health Forum on
the 23-25 January 2005 before the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre.
We are also participating in the Second People’s Health Assembly in
Cuenca, Ecuador, July 2005.
We propose a campaign against the
privatisation of health services. We will launch the campaign by
supporting the struggle of Hungarian citizens who have organised a
referendum against privatisation of hospitals.
We call on all
organisations present here at the Assembly of Social Movements to
participate in the days of action against the privatisation of health
services in Europe.
3 December 2004 - Day against the privatisation of public health in support of the referendum in Hungary
18
February 2005 - Day against the European constitution and the
Bolkestein Directive to coincide with the referendum on the European
constitutional treaty in Spain
10 to 16 April 2005 global week of action