*** Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this column mentions and includes images of persons who have passed away ***
The column this week looks across a range of political determinants of health, globally and locally, including critical elections in Europe and some good news, with the proposed ban on political donations in South Australia. It also highlights Australian tributes to the late Dr Michael Mosely, First Nations news, COVID-19 updates and Australian health professionals honoured in the Kings Birthday awards.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has published a new report, highlighting how big industry fuels chronic diseases, obstructs health policy and targets vulnerable people.
Can you guess which four corporate products cause 19 million deaths per year globally, or 34 percent of all deaths?
Finally, the quotable?
More Food Banks than McDonalds now in UK… Hunger is a political choice.”
Global health
What might moves to the hard right in Europe mean for public health, including the inflammation of racism and action on climate and the commercial determinants of health, particularly in Germany, with the rise of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), and France where one in three voters supported Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party in last weekend’s European Parliament poll?
However, while there’s alarm in many quarters, others are taking a calmer view.
See the final breakdown of European Parliamentary results, here and here.
However, there remains a big risk to democratic life and public health, says Professor Ilona Kickbusch who has issued a warning to the upcoming G7 meeting that, among its membership, “we are witnessing a significant trust gap in government and its institutions, including in public health”.
This is partly a response to the measures taken – or not taken – during the COVID-19 pandemic, but, as recent surveys show, the lack of trust goes much deeper and has been developing over a longer time, she said
“This must be a wake-up call for the G7, which defines itself as a ‘club of democracies’,” she writes for the Global Governance Project on: Trust – the basis for health and democracy.
Meanwhile in the UK, heading for an election on 4 July, former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown is counting the costs of a decade of austerity under Conservative governments with an election series at The Guardian on ‘The broken years: Tory Britain 2014-2024’, with his first article focused on on hunger:
There are 850 cinemas in Britain today and three times as many food banks. There are 1,200 hospitals and twice as many food banks. There are more food banks than there are public libraries.”
Ahead of the UK poll on 4 July, the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) says this is a critical time for health in the UK, “with the nation’s health getting poorer and inequalities widening”.
It says:
Following years of austerity, exacerbated by the pandemic, life expectancy has stalled, significant numbers of people are dying early from preventable illnesses and record numbers of people are dropping out of the labour market due to ill-health. Where people are born and live continues to have a massive impact on their life, their health and when they die.
Against this backdrop is a chronic and systemic failure to truly adopt a public health approach to policymaking, backed up by a long-term investment in prevention.”
Read: General election 2024: what public health needs from the next government and watch its video.
See also this thread from The New European re the UK elections, asking 15 experts for one small thing – relatively cheap, relatively simple – that would make things better.
In France, with a snap election called for 30 June, Sarah Durocher, President of Le Planning Familial, has warned that the result of the European elections “mark a worrying turning point” with the rise of the far right across Europe.
“The results in France overwhelm us, with almost 38 percent of votes cast for far-right parties,” Durocher wrote.
“We know that these parties undermine the rights of women, LGBTQIA+ people, gender equality and the rights of migrants and people far from the law. Their anti-choice, anti-feminist, racist and hateful political project endangers Le Planning Familial’s actions towards all the people we support.”
WHO: Just four industries cause 2.7 million deaths in the European Region every year
Meanwhile political determinants in Australia …
ACEM statement: Emergency doctors and nurses call for ceasefire
ACOSS statement on the NACC decision regarding Robodebt
The Mandarin: A global mandate for progress towards wellbeing economies
Viruses and vaccination
BMJ: Should we worry about a growing threat from “bird flu”?
LongCOVID: The Albanese Government announced it is investing nearly $14.5 million into research to improve understanding of the impacts of Long COVID on individuals, the community and the Australian health system.
Burnet Institute: Increasing COVID-19 vaccinations through community-based solutions
Shirtloads of Science podcast: Long COVID Part 1 with Prof Steven Faux
Vale Dr Michael Mosley
Dr Michael Mosley, the celebrated British doctor and broadcaster known particularly for the 5:2 diet, sparked a global outpouring of sadness, when he was found dead on the Greek island of Symi after an intense search over four days.
As The Conversation has reported, while a full coroner’s report has not yet been finalised, heat has been implicated as a factor that may have contributed to Mosley’s death. Greek police said Mosley is believed to have died of heat exhaustion after losing consciousness while walking in 40°C temperatures.
He has been mourned also in Australia, particularly for his capacity to communicate science in ways that advanced health and wellbeing. To honour his life and legacy, SBS On Demand has collated a selection of programs that highlight his devotion to changing the conversation around public health.
First Nations news and research
Read: Enablers and barriers to primary health care access for Indigenous adolescents
Addressing period poverty: To help address period poverty and reduce cost-of-living pressure, the Federal Government announced it would provide free pads and tampons to women and girls living in remote First Nations communities, supporting about 12,500 women and girls each year.
Honouring Aunty Fay Carter: A State Funeral Service to honour the life of revered Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta Elder Aunty Fay Carter OAM was held on Wednesday 12 June in Bendigo. You can watch the livestream here until 19 June, and see her testimony before the Yoorrook Justice Commission here.
Ward rounds…..
Health Affairs: How Preventable Hospitalizations Became A Widely Used But Flawed Quality Measure
BMJ: NHS makes urgent appeal for blood donations after cyberattack on London hospitals
Health gongs
Many health and justice experts and advocated were honoured this week as part of the King’s Birthday celebrations. See also the Australian Medical Association’s list of its members who received gongs.