SHEtalk: Global Health Equity in a Post-Pandemic Economy by Prof Ronald Labonté

circle, earth, green face

Photo: Mohamed Hassan/Pixabay

Abstract

With COVID-19 receding, many countries are pondering what a post-pandemic economy should look like. Some advocate a more inclusive stakeholder model of capitalism. Others caution that this would be insufficient to deal with our pre-pandemic crises of income inequality and climate change.

Many countries emphasize a ‘green growth recovery’ with improved funding for health and social protection. Progressive tax reform and fiscal policy innovations are needed, but there is concern that the world is already tilting towards a new round of austerity.

Fundamentally, the capitalist growth economy rests on levels of material consumption that are unsustainable and inequitable. More radical proposals thus urge ‘degrowth’ (fair growth, post-growth) policies to reduce consumption levels while redistributing wealth and income to allow the poorer half of humanity to achieve an ethical life expectancy. We know the policy tools needed to do so. An activist public health movement can help to ensure there is sufficient political will to adopt them.

 

Biography

Ronald Labonté is Emeritus Professor at School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Canada. He is also a member of Steering Council, People’s Health Movement.

Comment by

Ole Petter Ottersen - former Rector at Karolinska Institutet and the University of Oslo, Chair of the Univ Oslo-Lancet Commission of Global Governance for Health.
 

Register

If you want to watch/listen to this SHEtalk on Zoom, please register here.

What are SHEtalks

SHEtalks are a serial of informal research seminars held at Center for Sustainable Healthcare Education, University of Oslo. SHEtalks are research lunch lectures. The spring 2023 program was put together by researcher Gabriela Saldanha. Seminars take place at Thursdays at noon (GTM+1) unless otherwise specified. They may be delivered and attended in person or via zoom. 

Tags: health worker, medical tourism, health equity, post-pandemic, global health diplomacy, food security, primary health care, Antimicrobial resistance, activist public health
Published Dec. 14, 2022 12:11 PM - Last modified Mar. 21, 2024 3:12 PM