The effects of privatization of healthcare services have been widely criticized. In countries around the world, evidence is demonstrating that decades of increasing privatization of health has led to services that are of poorer quality, more expensive, and overall less accessible. Most often, the effects of privatization are unjustly felt by poor and marginalized populations who already struggle to access healthcare.

–Leigh Haynes, Baijayanta Mukhopadhyay in People’s Health Dispatch

What are the key nodes of power in the network of healthcare?

Which corporations and individuals are promoting privatization in countries with public and universal health systems?

What roles do former government employees play in the health care industry?

Privatization and commercialization of health is increasing in countries all over the world. In countries in need of strengthened public health systems, governments and international financial institutions look towards private solutions to reach universal health care. In countries with robust public health systems, such as in Europe and Canada, governments increasingly choose to allow private actors to purchase and administer aspects of the health system rather than bolster public health services. These decisions are made as increasing evidence shows that the private sector engagement in healthcare contributes to a widening health equity gap.

Extracting more and more profit from the health care system–at the expense of people’s health–becomes possible as democratically controlled public health systems are opened to private corporations. Their activities are increasingly unregulated and their complex operations are often hidden from regular people.

This project aims to uncover the connections between directors of corporations, their relations to government, and private equity (such as hedge funds) which are driving the global proliferation of privatization and commercialization of health.

Group meetings occur twice monthly to conduct research and discuss results. Research guidance, tools, and tips are provided by experienced researchers and global health activists. If you would like to learn more information about (or join!) this project, contact Leigh.