MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
29.3.2006
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Luisa Morgantini, Gabriele Zimmer, Adamos Adamou, Vittorio Agnoletto and Ilda Figueiredo
on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
on World Health Day
B6‑0233/2006
European Parliament resolution on World Health Day
The European Parliament,
– having regard to World Health Day on 7 April 2006, which will be devoted to healthcare workers,
– having regard to the Health Workforce Decade (2006-2015), which will be launched on World Health Day,
– having regard to the Commission’s Communication on an EU Strategy for Action on the Crisis in Human Resources for Health in Developing Countries, adopted on 12 December 2005,
– having regard to the High-Level Forum on the Health MDGs held in Abuja in December 2004, and to its conclusions,
– having regard to the Millennium Development Goals, to the summit on progress towards the MDGs held in New York in September 2005, and to the latter’s conclusions,
– having regard to the Development Policy Statement signed by the Commission, Council and Parliament in December 2005,
– having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas there is a chronic worldwide shortage of health workers, with 75 countries having fewer than 2.5 health workers per 1,000, which is considered the minimum needed to deliver basic health services,
B. whereas this chronic shortage is a result of underinvestment in health sectors and in the education of key health workers in both the developed and the developing world,
C. whereas industrialised countries, in addressing the problem of staff shortages, become ‘recipient’ countries and actively recruit health personnel abroad, and whereas the emigration of qualified health workers from a number of ‘donor’ countries may undermine the functioning of their health systems,
D. whereas both donor and recipient countries have signed up to the Millennium Development Goals, three of which are directly related to health,
E. whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) have been working together since 1972 towards improving medical education worldwide,
F. whereas HIV/AIDS has deeply affected the health and lives of millions of peoples worldwide, with societies in the developing countries paying the highest price; whereas this has also seriously affected health personnel; whereas more funds are urgently needed to cover the increasing needs in HIV/AIDS services,
G. whereas the European Parliament has repeatedly called on the European Commission to ensure that 20% of all development funds are spent on basic health and basic education, and 35% of development funds on social spending in general,
H. whereas access to health services is a fundamental human right,
1. Welcomes the celebration on 7 April of World Health Day, which is devoted to the health workforce crisis and aims to find ways of overcoming it;
2. Notes the Commission Communication of December 2005 on a Strategy for Action on the Crisis in Human Resources for Health in Developing Countries, fully supporting its assertion that ‘MDG progress will be difficult to achieve without increased investment in the health workforce’, as well as its clear commitment to working in partnership with developing countries on development strategies;
3. Criticises, nevertheless, the contradiction between the Commission’s stated commitment to improving healthcare in developing countries and achieving the MDGs and its regrettable performance in spending development funds in the healthcare sector;
4. Deplores the fact that the Commission intends to propose that only 6% of development funds within the new development cooperation instrument be dedicated to human and social development, covering not only healthcare, HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health, but all other social development, including children, education and gender programmes;
5. Calls on the Commission to review these figures and to adhere to Parliament’s longstanding demand that 35% of development funds be used for the social sector, with 20% of overall funds being used for basic healthcare and basic education;
6. Stresses that migration policies should not work to the detriment of developing countries by actively seeking key health workers from the poorest nations;
7. Underlines that the best way of combating the ‘brain drain’ in the health sector is to provide career incentives for key health workers to stay in their home country; calls on the Commission, Member States and the governments of developing countries to prioritise funding for health workers’ salaries and to invest in training of key health workers;
8. Calls on the Commission and Member States actively to support medical education in developing countries, taking into account the different needs of each country and region and the aim of constantly raising its quality; calls on them likewise to support access to medical education for students from rural and remote areas, as well as those from low‑income backgrounds;
9. Takes the view that it is fundamental to guarantee access to high-quality and free health services for all;
10. Insists that the Commission and Member States do their utmost to ensure that healthcare funds reach the poorest in developing countries; highlights the urgent need for access to healthcare in rural and remote areas;
11. Expresses its appreciation and support for the work of NGOs that render assistance and expertise in the area of health in the developing countries; calls on the Commission actively to support these NGOs;
12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member State Heads of Government, the Heads of Government of all developing countries, and Dr Lee Jong-wook, Secretary-General of the World Health Organisation.