Bulletin #113: Guarantee of life lives in Kerala, but health workers are attacked elsewhere
This fortnight
The recent killing of nurse Alex Pretti by US Customs and Border Protection once again underscored warnings from health workers that, under the current imperialist paradigm, health professionals can easily become targets of repressive authorities and occupying powers – a reality the world has been witnessing throughout the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
In Palestine, where hundreds of health workers have been killed by the Israeli occupation and dozens more remain imprisoned, researchers have suggested the concept of “de‑healthification” to describe the deliberate destruction of the health system in occupied territories and its consequences.
In Kerala, India, the situation stands in sharp contrast: left administrations have implemented policies to advance the right to health, including significant reductions in infant mortality. We bring an analysis of Kerala’s successes in both English and Spanish.
In Britain, the Starmer administration is pushing for implementation of a contract between the NHS and the Israel‑linked tech firm Palantir. Health workers and activists warn that this would put patients’ data at risk, contribute to further commodification of health services, and deepen complicity in the Gaza genocide.
In Ireland, new trade union research shows that neglect of sound health workforce policies and the sidelining of frontline workers’ input have eroded morale, exacerbating already critical staff shortages and barriers to access.
Finally, in early February, the World Health Organization’s Executive Board will meet in Geneva to discuss key global health issues. The meeting takes place under the shadow of the United States’ formal exit from the WHO, yet there remains hope for progress on critical fronts, including global plans to advance health for Indigenous communities.
Featured articles
Researchers warn of “de-healthification” in Palestine as infections spread in Gaza
Health conditions in Gaza remain critical as the Israeli occupation undermines healthcare despite the so-called ceasefire and growing infection numbers.
The guarantee of life is alive in Kerala
In 2016, Kerala’s Left Democratic Front government announced the goal of cutting infant mortality to single digits. Last year, it managed to bring the ratio to five per 1,000 births — lower than India’s national average and even some Global North countries’.
British government pressures NHS institutions to adopt Palantir plan
Researchers and activists warn of dangers in allowing Palantir access to NHS data, as the Starmer government pressures health institutions to comply.
Irish health workers think patients have been conditioned to accept “unacceptably low standard” of care
New union-backed research in Ireland shows most health workers face high stress and low morale, as workforce policy failures lead to problems in care delivery.
What’s in the WHO’s draft plan for Indigenous peoples’ health?
The People’s Health Movement coordinated a discussion on the WHO’s draft Global Plan of Action for the Health of Indigenous Peoples, examining its implications for more inclusive health systems.
Gallery: Killing of Alex Pretti
Source: Peoples Dispatch (@peoplesdispatch)
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La garantía de vivir está viva en Kerala
En 2016, el gobierno del Frente Democrático de Izquierda de Kerala anunció el objetivo de reducir la mortalidad infantil a una cifra de un solo dígito. El año pasado, logró reducir la tasa a cinco por cada 1.000 nacimientos, una cifra inferior al promedio nacional de la India e incluso a la de algunos países del Norte global.
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