What an eventful year it has been. 2019 was filled with collaborations, workshops, new publications, media moments, and mutual learning sessions. And it was the anniversary year in which we looked back on 40 years of our work in protecting global public health. We’re ready for 2020!
Last year we gained widespread media attention – within the Netherlands and abroad – with our work on access to medicines. For example, the Dutch newspapers de Volkskrant and Trouw, as well as other media, wrote about the findings of our joint report with SOMO, ‘Overpriced’. Moreover, thanks to our expertise on medicines prices policy, we appeared and/or were mentioned in (among others) the Dutch tv programmes EenVandaag (see here and here), Kassa, De Telegraaf and Follow The Money.
Our work on human resources for health also did not go unnoticed. For example, after having consulted with Southern partners, we provided joint input in the online consultation for the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being. It was endorsed by 20 other civil society organisations and individuals worldwide. Also, we presented and discussed the findings of our report on the human resources for health crisis in Uganda with the Ugandan Ministry; and the report was also discussed in the Ugandan Parliament.
Within our finance for health programme, we were able to exchange ideas and hold constructive dialogues with various stakeholders and organisations. For example, we held two fruitful side events at the 2019 Spring Meetings of the World Bank/IMF, which enabled us to create space for more civil society engagement in the Global Financing Facility (GFF) – to improve the GFF and sexual and reproductive health and rights in low- and middle-income countries – and to exchange our ideas and concerns with both the GFF and the IMF about their policy.
Have a look at our ‘Highlights 2019’ document to read more about last year’s successes. We look forward to achieving more in 2020 – for health for all!
