Neoliberalism and Healthcare in South Asia:
A Talk by Susana Barria
Shaped by interventions of international financial institutions, the healthcare sector in South Asian countries has seen significant restructuring with an increase in private sector participation in provisioning. In Nepal and India these reforms have led to cost cutting measures by the government that opened the space for the growth of the private sector. This has had an impact on quality of services; has led to a rise in out of pocket expenditure of patients; as well as fuelled rampant informalisation of the labour force employed in the public healthcare sector. In Sri Lanka, the impacts have been milder, though on similar lines. The discussion will explore the linkages between neoliberal reforms and informalisation of employment; explore the trends in employment patterns in these three countries; as well as look into some of the union responses to this growing phenomenon.
excited to listen to Susana Barria on #health sector #tradeunions in #southasia now
— SSA Lanka (@ssa_lanka) September 22, 2016
it’s not only about looking at what governments in particular countries are doing but also the push factors coming from the region:Ms.Barria
— SSA Lanka (@ssa_lanka) September 22, 2016
Govts create the conditions that hamper the public service & thereby create argument for privatization: Ms.Barria — SSA Lanka (@ssa_lanka) September 22, 2016
differentiated pay structures for technical workers in #health sector has led to the atomization of #tradeunions: Ms.Barria — SSA Lanka (@ssa_lanka) September 22, 2016
compared to India & Nepal, #lka allocation for #health is quite low in spite of high indicators:Ms. Barria — SSA Lanka (@ssa_lanka) September 22, 2016
#privatization has impacted on labor, and on patients but what is the connection between #tradeunions & the patient asks Dr Pradeep Peiris — SSA Lanka (@ssa_lanka) September 22, 2016
the source of the problem is the same for both sides, but it takes works to make both recognize this: Ms. Barria #health #tradeunions — SSA Lanka (@ssa_lanka) September 22, 2016
isn’t private sector involvement important for access to #health? questions to Ms. Barria #tradeunions #southasia
— SSA Lanka (@ssa_lanka) September 22, 2016
that was the initial push for entry of pvt sector but in practice pvt sector set up in particular places meaning no proper primary access
— SSA Lanka (@ssa_lanka) September 22, 2016
it was initially pushed on the basis of access but after introduction of pvt sector in #health conversation shifted to quality:ms barria
— SSA Lanka (@ssa_lanka) September 22, 2016
Date: 22nd September, 2016
Venue: WERC Auditorium, 58, Dharmarama Road, Colombo 06
RSVP: info@ssalanka.org or +94112501339
Susana Barria works with the international federation of trade unions Public Services International, in New Delhi. Her current focus is on the conditions of workers in the healthcare sector and its impacts on provision of quality services to all; as well as the impacts of trade and investment agreements on public services.