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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

Audio: WINS Radio reports on dismissed Liberian health workers

11 April 2016

WINS Radio reports on PSI's call to action for the reinstatement of two Liberian health union leaders dismissed in February 2014 with 22 other workers following a nationwide strike in protest of working conditions and the lack of protective equipment and medication.

World Health Day 2016: Our health is not for sale!

07 April 2016

On Thursday April 7, Public Services International joins in the worldwide celebration of World Health Day.

Liberian healthcare workers: the unsung heroes of the Ebola crisis

31 March 2016

PSI is proud to nominate two exceptional candidates for the WHO’s 2016 International Health Workforce Awards which recognizes outstanding health workers and individuals who have demonstrated significant achievements in the field of human resources for health (HRH). Both candidates are members of PSI affiliate the National Health Workers Association of Liberia (NAHWAL).

Canada & USA North America Binational Meeting Report

24 March 2016

The PSI North America Binational meeting was held on March 4, 2016 in Ottawa and hosted by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). Robyn Benson (PSAC), the Canadian titular, and Candice Owley (American Federation of Teachers-AFT), the United States titular, co-chaired the meeting. This meeting followed the Canadian SUBRAC and the United States SUBRAC, both held on March 3, 2016.

PSI influencing United Nations policy on health employment

24 March 2016
Photo: Co-chairs of the UN High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth - Copyright Laurent Cipriani

PSI gave evidence to the UN High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth in Lyon, France on 23 March. PSI argued that public spending on public health was both a government obligation to ensure universal access to health care and an investment in economic growth.

Weak health systems caused the Ebola crisis in Liberia

16 March 2016

Liberia was the third country to be hit by the Ebola crisis in 2014-2015. Over 10,000 cases and almost 5,000 deaths were reported. Health workers in particular were severely hit due to the lack of personal protective equipment, medication and material, as well as knowledge of the disease.

In India, outstanding responses to nurses union call for mass casual leave

10 March 2016
All India Government Nurses Federation (AIGNF)/Facebook

On the 26th of February, more than 12,000 nurses under the banner of the All India Government Nurses Federation (AIGNF) were off-duty to protest against “retrograde recommendations” of the 7th Central Pay Commission. In case the government remains deaf to their demands, an indefinite strike will start from the 15th of March on.

Rosa Pavanelli joins UN Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth

08 March 2016
Rosa Pavanelli/Photo:CUPE

PSI General Secretary will represent the trade union movement, health workers and public services on a newly created UN High Level Commission announced by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the 2nd of March.

Hospitals and schools are being targeted in Syria in breach of international regulations

16 February 2016
Syrian flag

Air raids on five hospitals and two schools, on Monday, February 15th, in separate locations in northern Syria killed at least 50 people and left dozens others wounded. Five patients, a caretaker and a hospital guard are among the casualties in a hospital supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

"Public services welcome migrants" seminar to be held in March

12 February 2016

On 14-16 March, PSI, EPSU and ETUI will be holding a seminar in Brussels, Belgium, on “Public Services Welcoming Migrants: Strengthening the Role of Public Service Trade Unions in the Protection of Human Rights and Delivery of Public Services to Migrants, Asylum Seekers and Refugees”.

Trade unions and social organizations say 'Chile better without TPPA'

10 February 2016
Members of different social organizations and unions protested on February 4 against the TPPA (Photo: Nayareth Quevedo)

Members from different social organizations and trade unions came out on February 4 to the streets to protest against the TPPA, signed at the same day in New Zealand by 12 countries, including Chile, Mexico, Peru, United States and Canada.

PSI releases report on "The Syrian Refugee Crisis and its Effect on Public Services in Turkey"

08 February 2016
PSI's report release in Ankara
The study launched in Ankara on the 6th of February at the SES office - one out of the 11 PSI affiliates in the country - focuses on the access to health services by Syrian refugees.

Lack of funding for public services plays a vital role in Zika epidemic

03 February 2016
Photo: Aedes mosquito - Marcos Teixeira de Freitas/CC

This crisis demonstrates once more that underfunding and massive privatization of public health services have led to an absence of preventative measures to contagious diseases - which combined with the effects of climate change produces the perfect environment for their proliferation.

International Day of Older Persons

01 October 2015
Elderly people

[1 October 2015] - "PSI marks the International Day of Older Persons by calling attention to the global shortage of health and social service workers. This shortage is seriously jeopardizing the health and well-being of millions of older people who need a wide range of care," said PSI General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli.

Indian health workers demand safe working conditions

21 September 2015
Health worker in India

On Monday 14 September 2015, health workers organised under the banner of Mumbai Mahanagarpalika Karmachari Mahasangh (MMKM) held a protest rally in front of Sewri TB Hospital in Mumbai, where Rani Nagre, 31, staff nurse at the hospital died as a result of drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) on 9 September.