History of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan People’s Health Movement - India
Journey from Kolkata (2000) to Bhopal (2008)
Learning from Civil Society Mobilization, Participation and Action
for Health, Development and Equity
Dr.Thelma Narayan, Centre for Public Health And Equity Society for Community Health Awareness research and Action
Koramangala Bangalore
Campaign Materials for Mobilization
Karnataka State Health Assembly – I Davanagere, November 2000
Over 2000 participants Mobilization across 19 statesAdopted 20 point IndianPeople’s CharterLaunched the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, campaigning for Health for All Now
Health as a Fundamental
Human Right
Jan Swasthya Sabha, Kolkata 2000
JSA National Coordination Committee 22 National Networks and Resource Groups
Asian Community Health Action Network (ACHAN)All India People’s Science Network (AIPSN)
All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA); All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN);
Association for Indian Development, India (AID – India); Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS);
Breast Feeding Promotion Network of India (BFPNI); Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI);
Christian Medical Association of India (CMAI); Federation of Medical Representatives and Sales Association of India (FMRAI);
Forum for Crèche and Child Care Services (FORCES); Joint Women’s Program (JWP);
Medico Friends Circle (MFC); National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM);
National Alliance of Women’s Organizations (NAWO); National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW);
Society for Community Health Awareness, Research and Action (SOCHARA); Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI).
National Resource Groups in the NCC are: SATHI – CEHAT, Pune; Centre for Social Medicine and Community Health,
Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi; Community Health Cell (CHC)/ SOCHARA- society for Community Health Awareness, Research
& Action Bangalore; SAMA, Resource Group for Women and Health, Delhi;
Health Watch, UP - Bihar
JSA Organizational Structure
National Coordination CommitteeNational Working GroupNational Secretariat - Bhopal
Previously Pune (SATHI-CEHAT) Delhi SecretariatState JSA Units – 20
Communication Methods
PHA-NCC e-groupWebsite: www.phm-india.orgLinks: www.phmovement.org
Global PHA Exchange: http://lists.kabissa.org/mailman/listinfo/pha-exchange
People’s Health Assembly 1 Savar, Bangladesh, 4 – 8 December 2000
Active Participation by 250 Indian delegates from 19 states.
About 1500 participants from 75 countries
Adopted the Global People’s Charter for Health
Launched the Global People’s Health Movement (PHM)
Campaigns and Strategies Campaign on Health as a Human Right
People’s Health Day7th April 2001
Bangalore
Health Policy Dialogue and Action
• Critique of National Health Policy, 2002• Public Dialogue with Political Parties before
General Election 2004• Karnataka State Health Policy Process through
the Karnataka Task Force for Health and Family Welfare
• Chattisgarh State Health Resource Center• Orissa State Health Policy• Rajasthan – Several Initiatives• Maharashtra Regulation of Private Nursing
Homes, Budget Analysis
Health Policy Dialogue and Action
Adopted by Karnataka StateCabinet in 2004
Interim Report in April 2000Final Report in April 2004
Accepted by Govt of KarnatakaHigher Level Implementation Committee setup
National Health Policy Interaction with National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)-
2005 0nwards • Members of Task Forces and Advisory
Committees• Shifted focus from Demography to
Public Health• Community Monitoring of the Health
System.• People’s Rural Health Watch• National ASHA Mentoring Group
25th Anniversary of Alma Ata• Million Signature Campaign, 2003• Publication – ‘Revive Alma Ata! – HFA
Now!’• Right to Health Care Campaign, 2004:
NHRC and JSA organized five regional public hearings followed by a national public hearing which resulted in national guidelines to strengthen public health and primary healthAnnual reviews by NHRC of RecommendationsSmaller Public Hearings
Publications and Public Hearings on Right to Health Care
Campaigns on Gender Issues
• Campaign Against Sex Selective Abortion or Female Foeticide – 2001 onwards
• Campaign on Violence against Women as a Public Health Challenge – 2000 onwards
• Women’s Access to Primary Health Care - 2003• People’s Tribunal on Population Policies – 2004• 10th International Women and Health Meeting –
2005• Gender and Power Issues in Medical Education • Women’s Health Charter - 2007
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
• Two decade old campaign further strengthened
• Several meetings and initiatives undertaken• State Essential Drug List and Therapeutic
Guidelines• Critique of Amendment of Indian Patent Act
1970• National Meeting on Pharmaceutical Policy –
2005• Campaign against Novartis – Gleevec• Data Exclusivity
Support to Other Campaigns
• Right to Food Campaign – Hunger Watch• Asian People’s Charter on HIV/AIDS – 2004
Asian Social Forum, January 2003 Hyderabad
JSA members organized workshopsOn:1. Right to Health Care2. Environment and Health3. Tobacco and Health4. On People’s Health Movement
Global PHM Secretariat• CHC Bangalore hosted Global Secretariat
from January 2003 till July 2006.• Dr. Ravi Narayan was coordinator, supported
by a three member team and by a JSA support group.
World Social Forum, January 2004 Mumbai
• Workshops organized by JSA and PHM
International Health Forum, January 2004 Mumbai
• 700 participants from 50 • countries• Workshops and plenaries • Adopted Mumbai Declaration
WHO Advocacy Circle• Presence at World Health Assembly and
NGO Forum• Advocated with WHO to set up the
Commission on Social Determinants of Health
• Many PHM members active in Knowledge Networks
• JSA was the Civil Society facilitator for Asia • An alternative civil society report prepared
Tsunami Response
• Active involvement by JSA Constituents
• April 2005 – PHM Meeting in Chennai
• Established Tsunami Response Watch
www.tsunamiresponse.org
• CD Titled “Living on the Edge” produced and used for Advocacy
NHA 2 Preparations, 2006-2007
• Six background booklets prepared• State Level Mobilization• Survey’s of Primary Health Centers
and Dialogue with Officials• State Health Assemblies• NHA 2 in Bhopal in March 2007• PHM steering group meeting held
State Health Assembly - 3 March 21st 2007, Bangalore
State Health Assembly - 3 March 21st 2007, Bangalore
National Health Assembly – 2 March 23 – 25, Bhopal
• Three thousand participants
• Workshops and plenaries • Dialogue with Policy
Makers from Pubic Health System
• International Presentations in Solidarity
• Global Steering Committee meet
• Media Coverage
National Health Assembly – 2 March 23 – 25, Bhopal
National Health Assembly – 2 March 23 – 25, Bhopal
National Health Assembly – 2 March 23 – 25, Bhopal
National Health Assembly – 2 March 23 – 25, Bhopal
International People’s Health University (IPHU)
• IPHU launched in Cuenca during 2nd
People’s Health Assembly in 2005 • Two IPHU courses conducted in India in
Bhopal (2007), Jaipur ( 2008) • Third Course – Bangalore 2009
(http://www.phmovement.org/iphu/)
Community Monitoring an Update
• Community monitoring of Health System in 9 states
• Village Health and Sanitation Committee Manual / Training / Strengthening
• Surveys & feed back on health institutions• Mentoring committees – block, district, state• Public dialogue’s / Hearings • Media Fellowships/ coverage • Expansion at national level