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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

28 April: fight for safe, healthy and decent workplaces

27 April 2018

7,850 workers die every day from accidents at the workplace or occupational diseases stemming largely from poor working conditions. 2.78 million workers continue to die each year from work-related injuries and illnesses. 2.4 million of these deaths can be attributed to work-related diseases alone.

The future of health in Africa

27 April 2018

Over the last year, there have been renewed deliberations on what direction the pathways to health for all in Africa would take. The 1st World Health Organization Africa Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda on 27-28 June 2017 set the context, with the theme: “Putting People First: The Road to Universal Health Coverage in Africa”. The Geneva Graduate Institute encouraged further discussion with a panel discussion on “The Future of Health in Africa” on 23 January 2018.

Movement for the Right to Health: 3,000 people march in Buenos Aires

26 April 2018

Over 3,000 working-class people and youth marched on the streets of Buenos Aires on 1 December 2017 to demand universal public healthcare. This marked the opening of the 1st Congress of the Movement for the Right to Health, (Movimiento por el Derecho a la Salud - MDS), for universal health care and against the commodification of health.

Political will is required to get rid of malaria

25 April 2018

On Wednesday 25 April, PSI affiliates join the World Health Organization (WHO), governments, and civil society organisations to observe the World Malaria Day 2018. The day serves to provide information on the year-long implementation of national malaria-control strategies, including community-based activities for malaria prevention and treatment in endemic areas.

Addressing gender biases and inequities in the health and social care workforce is critical to achieving the SDGs

24 April 2018

PSI’s updated research “Tackling Violence in the Health Sector - A Trade Union Response” was highlighted in a webinar held on March 5 by the WHO’s Global Health Workforce Network (GWHN) thematic hub on Gender Equity in the Health and Social Workforce. The updated publication was one of four submissions in the webinar that showcased the wide range of research, policies and actions to achieve gender-transformative change in the health and social workforce.

Health for All campaign in West Africa

20 April 2018

The West Africa Health Sector Unions’ Network (WAHSUN) launched its Health for All West in Africa Campaign, in Abuja, Nigeria on 10 April 2018. This is the sub-regional momentum of the PSI global campaign for the Right to Health.

Striking nurses win in Delhi, India!

19 April 2018

After a 9 day strike, nurses at the Maharaja Agrasen Hospital in Delhi, India have successfully won better pay, conditions and nurse to patient ratios.

Tackling gender-based violence in the world of work – experiences in the health sector

16 April 2018

PSI is pleased to present the updated report entitled “Tackling Violence in the Health Sector - A Trade Union Response”, a consolidated research effort first released in 2016. The 2018 updated version of the study integrates the latest achievements of our affiliated unions in the health sector.

In India, nationwide support for Nurses' Strike at KVM Hospital in Kerala

13 April 2018

On 6 April, the United Nurses Association (UNA) released an open letter to the Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan that demands a fair resolution to the industrial dispute at KVM Hospital in Cherthala, Alappuzha. For more than 6 months, nurses from KVM have been on an indefinite strike demanding for statutory wages and better working conditions. UNA is the union representing the KVM nurses.

Young health activist watcher at the WHO Executive Board

11 April 2018
Sherif Olanrewaju at the WHO entrance

For the second year, in collaboration with the People’s Health Movement (PHM) on the Global Health Watch programme which PHM organizes for the civil society movement in international health, a young health activist from a PSI affiliate participated in the WHO Watch at the World Health Organization Executive Board session in January 2018.

Community-based health workers' struggle in Nepal enters a new phase

11 April 2018

Two unions of Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) in Nepal have decided to work together towards a joint set of demands to amplify their voice and ensure recognition as employees of the government's health system and obtain decent working conditions for their members.

Right to Health in Tanzania

11 April 2018

The Tanzanian government has taken some steps to improve health access to all citizens, including a budget increase of 35 per cent. But for the health workers’ trade union TUGHE, to improve both the quality of services in the health sector and productivity in the country, the government should invest more in improving health employees’ working conditions and motivation.

HEALTH FOR ALL: marking the 2018 World Health Day

06 April 2018
Saturday 7 April is the 2018 World Health Day (WHD). This date was chosen to draw global attention to international health every year with a dedicated theme, when the World Health Organization was formed seventy years ago.

Togo health workers intensify calls on government to address deplorable conditions

27 March 2018

Health sector workers in Lome, Togo, are resuming a series of strike actions in all public health provision centers across the country with effect from 27 March to 30 March 2018. A minimum service will however be guaranteed where necessary.

Liberia: a broken health system needs emergency care

20 March 2018
George Poe Williams

In a discussion with PSI, George Poe Williams, General Secretary of NAHWUL, Liberia, expressed his heartfelt frustration at the situation in the country, but also his hope for the future with the new government of President George Weah who recently met with the health sector unions, as earlier reported by PSI. Here are some extracts from the discussion.

Migration: Australia National Report

24 November 2012
Cover page

Quality healthcare and workers on the move. The Australia National Report is one of several research studies in key origin and destination countries carried out under the International Migration and Women Health and Social Care Workers Programme of Public Services International (PSI).

Migration: Kenya National Report

24 November 2012

Building trade union solidarity and action for workers on the move.

“Quality health care and workers on the move”

24 November 2012

Public Services International is proud to present the Ghana National Report. It presents the results of a comprehensive literature review, and first-hand on-the-ground research on the health and social care sectors in Ghana.

Rio+20 Working for a sustainable world

16 July 2012

The general failure of the Rio +20 negotiations presents both threats and opportunities for public service unions. These will require local and national level responses, as well as coordination across regions and globally.

Impact of the economic crisis and austerity measures on women

04 July 2012

Women are losing jobs in both the private and public sectors, which has an immediate effect on household income but a much longer term effect on the role of women in the labour force.

South Africa National Report on Migration in Health and Social Care Sectors

25 November 2011

The report documents innovative participatory research carried out in South Africa by PSI affiliated unions under the PSI’s Programme on Women and International Migration in the Health and Social Care Sectors. The programme seeks to build the capacity of public sector trade unions in addressing the causes and impact of migration in the health and social care sectors.

Canada: pre-decision and information kit

19 November 2011

The B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) and the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) are working with their sisters and brothers affiliated with Public Services International (PSI) to strengthen labour’s response to migration and to promote quality public health services.

Bermuda - Migration Pre-decision kit

19 November 2011

Bermuda’s small population limits its ability to provide adequate workers in specific areas of public services. For this reason, Bermuda relies heavily on migrant workers and is considered a country of destination.

PSUFASA Newsletter 2011

18 November 2011

The newsletter for public sector unions fighting HIV and AIDS in southern Africa (PSUFASA) is produced quarterly by the Project Coordinator based in the PSI Sub-Regional office for Southern Africa in Johannesburg.

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Pre-decision kit

07 November 2011

Public Services International (PSI) and its affiliated unions have prepared this kit to provide basic information on the facts, realities and issues concerning migration in the health sector. It is designed to help potential migrant health workers make an informed choice and to support unions that wish to assist health workers in making the right decisions

Annual Report 2010

05 April 2011

In the face of widening cuts to public services and attacks on the rights of public sector workers around the world, leaders of private and public sector trade unions, municipal governments and civil society groups made the unprecedented joint commitment to work together to promote investment in quality public services backed by fair taxation policies as the key solution to the economic crisis, and the best way to build peaceful, equitable, democratic and environmentally-sustainable societies.

Annual Report 2009

03 April 2010

Environmental and social sustainability provided the primary theme for PSI’s work in 2009. Leading into the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in Copenhagen in December, trade unions and civil society allies worked hard to ensure that world leaders would agree on an ambitious plan to reduce carbon emissions. Alas, this dream did not become reality. But we are committed to continuing this struggle and achieving real results.

Annual Report 2008

03 April 2009

Looking back at 2008 the one word that comes to mind is CHANGE. We saw a dramatic change in the global economy, it was the keyword in the US election and we initiated changes in PSI.

Ghana: pre-decision and information kit

22 April 2008

In Ghana, where unemployment and poverty are on the rise, many Ghanaian health workers are enticed and compelled to seek ‘greener pastures’ in Europe and in North America. Without adequate information preparation, aspiring migrants cannot make informed decisions on whether it is really in their best interest to migrate.

Framework guidelines for addressing workplace violence in the health sector

22 November 2005

Workplace violence - physical (homicide, attacks, beating) or psychological (mobbing, bullying, harassment) - affects all categories of workers in just about all sectors. However, the health sector is at major risk due to fundamental characteristics of the services delivered and the present work environment. Under the strain of reforms, social instability, increasing pressures from long working hours and shift work, demoralisation of workers, workplace violence is rapidly spreading in the health sector.