On the Way to the Health Cause 2
February 28, 2024, Pakhuis de Zwijger, Amsterdam
Is it possible to compel effective government action in the field of health, similar to how the Urgenda Foundation did in the field of climate?
Economic interests often seem to conflict with the health of people and the planet. Commercial forces from industries such as food, alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceuticals significantly influence policy. Is the government doing enough to protect its citizens from the negative consequences of reckless profit-seeking? What constitutes just health policy, and which policies are legally enforceable? How far does the 'right to health' extend?
Speakers
- Winne van Woerden is an expert in global health and post-growth economics. She highlights how our economic system is designed to serve the wealthiest 1% at the expense of everyone else. She illustrates how we can organize our economies to promote the well-being and health of people, animals, and nature.
- Rudolf Kampers is chair of the Counterphase Foundation and an experienced Socratic dialogue facilitator. He works to create free spaces for young people, particularly in education, to reflect together—through dialogue—on building a better future. He also advocates for peaceful actions to achieve that future. In addition to being a philosophy teacher and trainer for dialogue facilitators, he is the author of Philosophizing at the Kitchen Table.
Looking back at 'On the Way to the Health Case #1'
On December 12, two days after the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first 'Health Case' meeting took place. Central to the discussion was the question: 'What does the right to health mean to you?' The event was met with great appreciation. We were inspired by a performance by HKU students based on 'The Shell Case', and the following speakers shared their compelling stories about the fight for just health policies:
- Wim de Ceukelaire: doctor, health and social justice activist, and driver of the Belgian health movement 'Medicine for the People'.
- Antoinette Verbrugge: pioneer in the lawsuit against Tata Steel, founder of "Health First," and resident near Tata Steel.
- Wilbert Bannenberg: Doctor and founder of 'Pharma for Accountability', which is suing pharmaceutical company AbbVie for its high pricing of the arthritis drug Humira, 'displacing' up to 16,300 healthy life years.
Later, small groups discussed impactful cases where the 'right to health' was violated. In the next meeting, these cases will be further developed. Additionally, we will explore legal avenues to better protect the 'right to health'.
'The Health Case' is a collaboration between Van Hier Naar […], Universities Allied for Essential Medicines, and People's Health Movement.
