Health Activism in the UK
A very partial listing…
Medact: formed from the Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons and the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, Medact “speaks out for countless people across the globe whose health, wellbeing and access to proper health care are severely compromised by the effects of war, poverty and environmental damage.” We are particularly grateful to Medact for their consistent attention to the health effects of the war against Iraq. Their work, however, involves a broad set of social issues including development, environment and refugees.
Socialist Health Association: The SHA is affiliated with the British Labour Party and works for a health care system that reduces inequalities and is founded on socialist principles.
Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture: “Founded in 1985, the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture provides care and rehabilitation to survivors of torture and other forms of organized violence.”
Medical Justice “Medical Justice facilitates the provision of independent medical advice and independent legal advice and representation to asylum seekers detained in immigration removal centres. We also seek to negotiate changes to policy and practice within detention centres and publish our findings on the treatment of detainees.”
Action on Smoking and Health: The UK site for this international organization of anti-tobacco activists. The US site is at this link.
Politics of Health Group (UK) POHG’s slogan is: “Healthcare as if people mattered.” (What a radical idea!) PoHG “campaigns for the social, economic and environmental conditions that support health for all people, and against the market-oriented political and economic decisions that are currently being taken in the UK and across the world, and the inequalities, discrimination and poor health they create.” They have a number of thoughtful publications, accessible at this link.
Please attach a comment or send us an email if there are other groups we should include.
