Press release : European Week of Action against the Commercialisation of Health The commercialisation of health: the other pandemic!

Every year, several networks of trade unions, citizens’ groups, NGOs and social movements organise actions in different European cities for World Health Day (7 April).

In 2019, the European Network against the commercialisation and privatisation of health and social protection organised a conference with MEPs. That year, some of them signed a declaration of principles committing themselves to defend accessible health for all, outside the commercial logic.
This year 2022, we will meet them again on Thursday 31 March for a conference-debate which will be followed by a press conference to which we invite you.

Conference-debate at the European Parliament with European Parliamentarians
(Thursday 31 March 14:30-16:30)

• 14:30 Introduction by Network member - Jan Schriefer (FNV-ND)
• 14:40 ORPEA: Behind the symptoms, the facts. How to get out of the commercial system? - Fabien Boucquéau (CNE-B), Sébastian Franco (GRESEA-B).
• 15:00 Are workers only tools of production? - Adam Rogalewski (European Federation of Public Service Unions EPSU),
• 15:10 Extension of commercialisation, the Flemish example - Dries Goedertier, (ACOD-B)
• 15:20 The mechanisms of European constraints on health policies - Vincenzo Maccarrone (ERC Dublin-IRL)
• 15:45 What can be done to fight the commercialisation of health?
  Discussion with the groups’ health officers and/or Parliament members.
  What do we expect from Europe? How can we intervene?
• 16:30 Conclusion - Jean Vignes- F, Yves Hellendorff- B (Network)

17:00 European press conference (same room)
This initiative will be held at the European Parliament in Brussels
Altiero Spinelli Building, ASP1 E2,
We hope to see you there. Welcome from 14H30
You can also participate in the remote conference: https://broadcaster.interactio.eu/join/i6t1-s62n-u3ws

In the framework of the French Presidency of the Council :
EUROPEAN DAY OF ACTION AGAINST THE CO-MARKETING OF HEALTH
PARIS on Thursday 07 April

7 April 2022: World Health Citizen Day and European day against the commercialisation of health

11.00 am : International press conference at "La Base", 31 rue Bichat - Delegates from the different organising countries and organisations supporting the initiative of the Euro-Mediterranean Network will be present.

14:30-17:00 : Demonstration of health, social and medico-social workers, with European delegations: Departure from Place de la Bastille to Place de la République.
17:00 : Festive and protest moment - Place de la République
Speeches and street art.

Actions or demonstrations will take place in several other cities in Europe.
A series of webinars organised by the Network is available for consultation via the YT page of the Network: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaxYE7ursP-NfLBkQdD9LYw

For further information: please contact Mathilde Tellin, coordinator of the European Network Against the Privatisation and Commercialisation of Health and Social Care
+32492609386 mathilde.tellin@gezondheid-solidariteit.be