[afro-nets] Global Health Watch - An Alternative World Health Report

[Dieter Neuvians MD <neuvians@mweb.co.za>]

Global Health Watch 2005-2006 - An Alternative World Health Report
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People?s Health Movement, Bangalore; Medact, London; 
Global Equity Gauge Alliance, Durban;
Published by Zed Books, London/New York, 2005; ISBN 1 84277 569 3
 
Download the report as Adobe PDF file (378 pp. 5.8 MB!) at: 
http://www.ghwatch.org/2005report/ghw.pdf
 
Improving healthcare amid globalisation is an enormous chal-
lenge. Some 2.7 billion people live on less than U$ 2 per day, a 
rise of 10% over the past 18 years. Healthy life expectancy is 
39 in Africa compared to 66 in the developed world. Health and 
poverty statistics record the disparities, but can only hint at 
the misery faced by those at the bottom of the pile. The imbal-
ance in power between rich countries and poor countries, as well 
as between the unaccountable corporate sector and public bodies 
is an important underlying determinant of ill health. 
 
The global community has failed to achieve 'Health for All by 
the Year 2000'. New targets such as the Millennium Development 
goals look increasingly unachievable. Questions need to be asked 
about whether current policies in global health are working. The 
Global Health Watch for 2005-2006 looks at some of the most im-
portant problems, suggests solutions, and monitors the efforts 
of institutions and governments concerned with promoting health 
world-wide.