Health equity in economic and trade policies

This Joint Strategy, which will provide an overarching long-term framework for Africa-EU relations, will be implemented through successive short-term Action Plans and enhanced political dialogue at all levels, resulting in concrete and measurable outcomes in all areas of the partnership. The purpose of this Joint Strategy is to take the Africa-EU relationship to a new, strategic level with a strengthened political partnership and enhanced cooperation at all levels. The partnership will be based on a Euro-African consensus on values, common interests and common strategic objectives. This partnership should strive to bridge the development divide between Africa and Europe through the strengthening of economic cooperation and the promotion of sustainable development in both continents, living side by side in peace, security, prosperity, solidarity and human dignity.

Have traditional restrictive macroeconomic policies and budget ceilings limited some governments from giving HIV and AIDS the attention it deserves? This paper analyses the links between macroeconomic frameworks provided by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and HIV/AIDS social spending in Ghana and Malawi. Authors stress the need for a fundamental shift in the design and execution of the macroeconomic framework and propose policy recommendations.

Two proposals to change the current patent system are causing a new diplomatic battle at the World Health Organisation in November. One concerns the launch of new medicines and the other seeks to make existing drugs available at low prices in developing countries. A coalition of developing countries, amongst them Brazil, and non-governmental organisations are defending a “patent pool” to combine intellectual property rights on existing medicines, and a “prize fund” to reward and stimulate discovery of new medicines for so-called neglected diseases. The two initiatives are receiving strong opposition from some rich countries and the pharmaceutical industry. They have also caused a split between the two major Latin American countries. Mexico is moving away from Brazil’s position and is making alliance with the US, alleging that it has commitments in the trade agreement with Washington.

The aim of this Report is to provide a rigorous analysis on how employment relations affect different population groups, and how this knowledge may help identify and promote worldwide effective policies and institutional changes to reduce health inequalities derived from these employment relations. Consequently, the report incorporates the political, cultural, and economic context to provide a comprehensive account of the current international situation of labour markets and types of employment conditions. Thus, through regulating employment relations, main political actors can not only redistribute resources affecting social stratification, but also have an impact on the life experiences of different social groups including opportunities for well-being, exposure to hazards leading to disease, and access to health care.