The Third People's Health Assembly was held in July in Cape Town, South Africa with its theme of "Health for All Now". Developing countries which transformed public health systems under the structural adjustment policies into insurance-based health models have failed in providing healthcare to the poor. Where does India stand in relation to the ruling United Progressive Alliance's commitment to take public health spending to 3% of the GDP by 2012?
The Third People’s Health Assembly (PHA 3), organised by the People’s Health Movement (PHM), was held in July in Cape Town, South Africa. The theme of this third edition was “Health for All Now” and the debates were around the issues of universal access and coverage. With over 800 participants from 90 countries a rich repertoire of experiences were shared across 109 sessions of plenary, sub-plenary and workshops spread across six days, ending with a rally on the streets of Cape Town on 11 July 2012 (http://www.phmovement.org/en/pha3).
The assembly discussed a wide range of health and related issues, including the political and economic context of health, comprehensive primary healthcare, social determinants of health, universal coverage, mobilising for health, etc. The universal access and financing of healthcare for such access underpinned the discussions across the various sessions.
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