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Health and Social care services

Quality health care is important to families, societies and the economy – because healthy workers are more productive. The PSI – which represents 8 million health care workers – believes that care must be available to people who need it, not just to those who can pay. Health care is dangerous work. These workers, and the services they provide, are worthy of everyone’s support. Read more

Depression: Let's talk

13 March 2017
WHO poster Depression: let's talk

Confronting Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), often simply called depression, will be the theme of this year’s World Health Day on 7 April.

Towards a renaissance of the World Health Organization

13 March 2017
Candidates for the postion of WHO DG

The World Health Organization (WHO) is at a critical juncture in its history, and set for a new Director General (DG) to take office on 1 July 2017. The world has changed a lot since its formation in 1948, with a strong mandate to direct and coordinate international health.

PSI launches the Human Right to Health Campaign in Southern Africa

06 March 2017

PSI affiliates organised the sub-regional launch of the global campaign at Reef Hotels in Johannesburg on 3 March 2017. They all pledged their full support for the initiative, endorsing its framework for advocacy within southern African countries.

KHMU resolves to struggle for better health care and the candlelight revolution in Korea, at annual Congress

02 March 2017

The Korean Health and Medical Union (KHMU) held its 2017 Annual Congress on February 22-23 at the International Conference Hall of the Seoul Women’s Plaza. The meeting was attended by delegates from the 180 branches of KHMU, representing 50,000 members.

Zero Discrimination Day: Make Some Noise – and ACT to Realise the Right to Health

01 March 2017

PSI and its affiliates in the health sector across the world joined in marking March 1, as global Zero Discrimination Day. The day has been set aside since 2014 to raise awareness on the need to roll back all forms of discrimination in access to health services, particularly for persons living with HIV.

PSI launches Human Right to Health campaign in the Oceania sub-region

27 February 2017

PSI affiliate the New Zealand Public Service Association (NZPSA), along with other NZ unions representing nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, cleaners, administration staff and paramedics have united under the banner “Yes We Care”. They will tour the country in the lead up to their national election.

First International Symposium on Community Health Workers starts in Uganda

21 February 2017

The first International Symposium on Community Health Workers (CHWs) commenced on 21 February at Hotel Africana in Kampala, Uganda. The 3-day symposium with the theme: Contribution of CHWs towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals brings together over 450 policy makers, academics, practitioners, and civil society organisations in the health sector, including PSI.

In New York, PSI affiliate 1199SEIU delivers letter to the Ambassador of Liberia to the US

20 February 2017

On February 17, joining the worldwide protests for the reinstatement of health workers Joseph S. Tamba and George Poe Williams, President and General Secretary of NAHWAL, respectively, Maria Castaneda on behalf of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East delivered a letter to the Ambassador Jeremiah C. Suluneth.

Trade union rights in Liberia: PSI meets the Ambassador to the UN in Geneva

17 February 2017

On February 17, PSI Deputy General Secretary, David Boys, Health Officer, Baba Aye, and Trade Union Rights Officer, Camilo Rubiano, met with the Ambassador of Liberia to the UN organizations in Geneva, Mr. Paul Wolokollie Tate, to discuss the situation of Joseph S. Tamba and George Poe Williams, President and General Secretary of NAHWAL, respectively.

PPPs and the Right to Health: PSI French-speaking Africa Affiliates Call for People over Profit

16 February 2017

The PSI Human Right to Health campaign was launched in Francophone Africa in the first week of February. This was with a 2-day seminar on PPPs and the Right to Health, organised on the eve of the French-Speaking Africa Sub-Regional Advisory Committee meeting at Lome, Togo.

In Pakistan, Community Health Workers Get Their Issues Across

15 February 2017
Picture caption: Shama Gulani, General Secretary of ASLHWA addresses the public meeting in Karachi

On 30 January, the All Sindh Lady Health Workers and Employees Association, PSI and Workers Education and Research Organisation organised a public meeting in Karachi on "Socio Economic Impacts of Delayed Wages on LHWs and their families" and "Sexual Harassment of Lady Health Workers on the Job and Field" to share the findings of two studies to be published very soon.

Support Fair and Ethical Recruitment: #NoRecruitmentFees

14 February 2017
Join the PSI campaign to abolish the practice of charging recruitment fees on migrant workers. Sign on to the Manifesto and use it to shift policy and practice towards fair and ethical recruitment. #NoRecruitmentFees

Time to end attacks on Lady Health Workers in Pakistan

02 February 2017

PSI launched the reports of two research studies: Sexual harassment faced by Lady Health Workers at work and field, and Socio-economic impacts of delayed wages on Lady Health Workers in Pakistan on January 30.

Nursing Staff Levels Affect Patient Outcomes - Stand Against NHS Cuts and Closures

01 February 2017
Photo: Unison

A recent study in the UK confirms positive correlations between trained nurses staffing levels and patient outcomes. This is at a time when the National Health Service (NHS) faces the likelihood of cuts and closures under the guise of Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs).

Indian High Court rules community health volunteers are municipal employees

31 January 2017
Some of the 4000 women affected by the rule

After 14 years of struggle, 4,000 women health volunteers in Mumbai have been granted the status of municipal employees. They will now be covered for pension benefits and insurance.