Medact- taking action on global health

Medact is a health professionals’ charity taking action on key issues in global health today. First founded in 1951 during the Korean War, it is committed to putting health at the centre of policy debates on conflict, poverty and the environment.

Their recent work includes:

• Launching a major new report on health in Iraq called Count the Casualties. This is putting pressure on the British government to commission an independent inquiry into Iraqi deaths and injuries. Count the Casualties



• Publishing research which shows that health worker migration from the poorest countries is still rising; a workable proposal is laid out, and calls for action from the NHS, professional’s associations and trade unions are made to deal with the real problem behind migration – the massive inequalities between rich and poor countries. Brain Drain

• Leading the production of the Global Health Watch, an alternative to WHO’s World Health Report, which presents civil society’s view on global health. The Watch will be launched in July at the time of the G8 Summit and the 2nd People’s Health Assembly.Global Health Watch

• Gathering evidence on denial of health care for asylum seekers, and lobbying against new government proposals which will further restrict access,Medact

• Continuing to promote the introduction of global health into all medical and nursing curricula in the UK. For our proposals go to Medacts Pub Curriculum.

What you can do

Campaign – you can start by sending an email to Jack Straw at the Count the Casualties website above and following up other actions on health worker migration or refugee health by writing to your MP.

Participate – in our meetings and debates. Our forthcoming meeting on health worker migration on 23rd April promises to be a lively discussion of Medact’s new proposals. You can also join one of our local groups.

Help us practically – by helping us prepare campaign actions and by getting information out to our members and the wider public. We will need help soon to make sure that the launches of the Global Health Watch occur with the highest amount of publicity possible.

Join us – by becoming a member of Medact at http://www.medact.org/medact_join.php. Even if you can’t campaign with us, a regular donation will help others to do the work.