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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

Canadian unions campaign for universal access to prescription drugs

24 March 2019
Health professionals in Canada

According to the Wellesley Institute, Canada is the only developed country with a universal healthcare programme which does not include access to prescription drugs. Thus, while Canadians don’t need to pay to see their doctor, prescription drugs are not covered by the universal healthcare programme. And they are some of the highest priced in the world, with patients’ out-of-pocket expenditure on prescribed drugs amounting to $3.6bn annually.

Chile: FENPRUSS updates its “Another Health System Is Possible” proposals

24 March 2019
FENPRUSS members display the booklet 'Another Health System is Possible'. Photo: FENPRUSS

The National Confederation of Health Service Professionals (FENPRUSS) has enthusiastically begun work on updating its proposals for strengthening and defending the public health system in Chile.

Costa Rica: Government threat to the right to strike

24 March 2019
Rodrigo Loópez and María Esther Hernández Solís. Photo: AAron Sequeira

The National Association of Nursing Professionals (ANPE) in Chile is fighting new legislation which aims to abolish the right to strike. The action started when the union exposed that big business was receiving fiscal advantages while public services struggle. Now they are fighting against four bills removing the right to strike. Union officer María Esther Hernández Solís presents the union's position.

Argentina: 30,000 Health professionals strike

22 March 2019
Health professionals in Argentina demonstrate against budget cuts in the health service.

The Trade Union Federation of Health Professionals of Argentina (FeSProSa) organised a two-day strike on 6-7 March “against adjustment and dismissals”. Nearly 30,000 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other professionals downed tools in over 600 health facilities across the country.

For the right to paid employment in Nepal

27 February 2019

In Nepal, JHL, Tehy, SASK (the Finnish Trade Union Solidarity Centre) and PSI are involved in a development project aimed at attracting volunteer workers into paid public health care.

Universal Health Care and Maternity Leave in the Philippines

21 February 2019

History was made in the Philippines on 20 February, when President Duterte signed several bills the government had enacted into law. These included the Universal Health Care (UHC) bill and the Expanded Maternity Leave (EML) bill. Both measures are part of the PSI Philippines campaign under the Health Project supported by Finnish PSI affiliates and SASK.

Right to Health - Issue 05

10 January 2019

Get the latest global news on health and social care services. People over Profit! #PublicHealth4All. Right to Health newsletter Issue 05/2018.

No more excuses! PSI statement for International Workers' Memorial Day, 28 April 2014

17 April 2014

No more excuses!


It is the duty of governments and enterprises to protect the health and safety of workers

Working for the many - public services fight inequality

07 April 2014

The UK-based NGO Oxfam has published a 26-page booklet "Working for the many," that calls on governments to urgently reform tax systems and increase public spending on free public services, such as health and education, to tackle inequality and prevent us being tipped irrevocably into a world that works for the few, not the many.

Austerity is bad for everyone’s health: cuts in nurses and training hurt patients

03 March 2014
nurse

Study: Nurse staffing and education and hospital mortality in nine European countries

Mortality rates after common surgical procedures decrease dramatically if patients receive treatment in hospitals where nurses have managable workloads and hold bachelor's degrees, according to a study published in The Lancet.

Public health care vs. the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement

04 February 2014
Public health care vs the TPP agreement

A PSI - North America strategic briefing

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations are set to erect the largest, most comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) in the world today. The negotiations include 12 nation states of the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam - with South Korea still considering its incorporation.

Resolution 25: Labour brokers/employment agencies in the public sector

03 February 2014

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI),
meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Resolution 8: Demanding Standards and Quality in Health Care Provision

31 January 2014

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Resolution 24: Austerity and Privatisation

31 January 2014

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI),
meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Resolution 29: Ensure the common good with public services and a social protection floor

31 January 2014

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI),
meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Resolution 37: Ethical International Recruitment

30 January 2014

 The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Resolution 12: Educating and Mobilizing Workers and the Public in Support of Fair Tax Systems to Fund High-Quality Public Services

30 January 2014

The World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November

Resolution 11: Redress taxation systems to adequately fund public services

29 January 2014

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI),
meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Report from the Health & Social Services Sector Strategy Consultation

13 January 2014

The strategic consultation of 18-19 November 2013 was convened to review and renew the health and social services strategy for PSI, given that PSI affiliates had adopted a broad Programme of Action at Congress in 2012, including 4 resolutions on health, and, that after wide consultations early in 2013, had agreed a set of priorities in Working for the Alternative.

This report summarizes the conclusions of the consultation and highlights the action points for 2014 for PSI and PSI affiliates.

Impacts of the financial and economic crisis and of austerity measures on health-care systems, on the health workforce and on patients in Europe

05 December 2013

This paper describes the impact of the financial and economic crisis, as well as austerity measures on the health care systems, the health workforce and patients.

Communiqué: Public Services International Steering Committee SC-17

25 November 2013
PSI Steering Committee and staff, November 2013

Angered by the continuing attacks on public services and the workers who provide these services, distressed by the rising inequality across the world and the failure of the current economic system to provide jobs, particularly for young people, the Steering Committee reiterated its commitments to the 2013-2017 Programme of Action “Social Justice through Quality Public Services” and endorsed priority actions for 2014.

Effects of austerity on Greece

31 October 2013

A briefing paper in three parts prepared by PSI's research unit (PSIRU) on the effects of austerity on Greece. These background papers were commissioned by PSI for the PSI/EPSU CAN held in Greece, 4-8 November 2013.