Bulletin #77: Doctors Against Genocide, bringing humanity back to medicine

People's Health Dispatch

31 May 2024 • 5 min read

This fortnight

Health workers play a crucial role in the solidarity movement with Palestine, both locally and internationally. One of these groups, Doctors Against Genocide, participated in the recently concluded People’s Conference for Palestine in Detroit. Peoples Dispatch interviewed some of the organization’s leaders to learn more about future mobilizations to protect the right to health in Palestine.

Meanwhile, the health system in the Gaza Strip faced new assaults by the Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF). Most hospitals in Rafah were forced to close amid the attacks, while the few remaining operational institutions in northern Gaza were besieged again, including Al-Awda Hospital.

Health in the occupied Palestinian territories was also a topic at the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA77), held from May 27 to June 1 in Geneva. Discussions became particularly heated as most Global North countries continued to support Israel in one way or another.

WHA77 also tackled the effects of the climate crisis on health, the need for economic models that promote health, and the future of the Pandemic Treaty and revisions of the International Health Regulations.

Side events at WHA77 included sessions dedicated to the global health workforce crisis and strategies to address it. The shortage continues to impact frontline workers the most, particularly those in insecure jobs. In the lead-up to the general election in South Africa, Community Health Workers staged protests across the country, demanding respect, better salaries, and stable employment.

In the United Kingdom, an inquiry into the use of infected blood transfusions between the 1970s and 1990s concluded, revealing a disturbing picture of how several administrations and leading health officials conspired to hide the extent of the scandal.