Transcript Hani Serag - People`s Health Movement

Uprising in the Middle East:
Struggle for Freedom and Social Justice
Hani Serag
Associate Coordinator,
People’s Health Movement (PHM)
PHA3 / 6-11 July 2012 / Cape Town, South Africa
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People’s Health Movement (PHM)
• Is a global network brings together health activists,
public-interest civil society organizations, and
academia.
• Strives for ‘Health for ALL’ through revitalizing the
Primary Health Care (PHC) and addressing social
Determinants of health.
• Has presence in more than 70 countries.
• Has contry-specific activities and global programs;
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Global Health Watch
International People’s Health University
Right to health campaign
Global Health Governance Initiative
• Preparing for the third People’s Health Assembly
• www. phmovement.org
PHA3 / 6-11 July 2012 / Cape Town, South Africa
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Historical Background
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1952: army movement (Nationalisim / Arab Unity)
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Republic
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End of British colony 1956
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Support to the national liberation movements and non-aliened movement
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Significant economic growth
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Agriculture reform (limiting the land ownership + central planning)
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Industrialization (technology transfer)
Significant developmental and social security measures
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Free public education
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Health care (state facilities + sectorial health insurance system)
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Massive nationalization (including the Suez canal) – resulted in the 1956 war (GB,
France and Israel)
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Limited political space (one party) + Oppression against the communists and Muslim
fundamentalists
1967: The
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Occupation of parts from Egypt and Syria
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War economy
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• 1973: the victory
– Liberation of limited part of Sinai
• 1974: the open door polices
– Rapid move to the western camp
– Exporting workforce to the Arab oil states
– Massive black market
– Cultivating the islamic fundamentalism (to beat the calls for back
to socialism)
• 1979: the ‘peace’
– Bi-lateral peace agreement
– The Arab states boycotting Egypt
– The move to the market economy and rise of inequalities
– Golden era of fundamentalists
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Early 1980s
– Limited political space
– Gradual loose of social protection
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Late 1980s
– Structural readjustment program
– Waves of privatization
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1990s
– Massive waves of corruption
– Increased inequities
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2000s
– The oligarchy (the marriage between wealth and authority)
– The governing family
– Significant increase in the GDP with significant increase of number of
people under poverty line
– Massive deterioration of public sector and service
– Neolibral agenda, coruption, massive inequities
– The Middle East wars (aligning the region with the US policies re the
middle East)
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Health Insurance Law
• Separating the finance from service delivery = the
Health Insurance Organization is a health fund.
• Public health facilities work as financially
independent units = unable to compete after 30
years of degradation, selling them out, more
privatization
• Purchasing the services based on competition
among providers = more space for the private sector
and welcoming monopolies
• customers pay 30% of the cost of medical
interventions and medicines = further inequities /
further stratification of the society
• Actuarial study by McKinsey
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Summary
• Egypt is not in full control of its land
• Egypt is losing its leading position in the
region
• Massive privatization for basic services and
selling the natural resources
• Massive inequities and stratification of the
society (economic growth and more people
under the poverty line).
• Corruption
• Oppression
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Revolution
• Freedom
• Social Justice
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• Frequent strikes and protests led by the workers
• Massive mobilization using the social media
• 25th January 2011: increasing numbers in Tahrir squares
reaching more than 15 millions by the 11th February when
Mubarak is obliged to step down
• Army took over
• Fundamentalists (Muslim brothers and salafists) had more than
60% in the Parliament.
• Very long transition period led by the army – allowed the old
regime to reorganize
• Presidential elections (first round): 24% for Muslim Brothers;
23% for old regime; 21% for lefts, liberals and social democrats
• Presidential elections (second round): 51.8% for Muslim
Brothers and 48.2% for the old regime (misleading figures).
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What happens?
• Mubarak and not the regime
• The army leaders are a part of the
dictatorship and the oligarchy
• The north needs a dictatorship
– Easier to control
– Energy resources
– Unneeded potential regional power
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What next
• Senario-1: The army and Muslim brothers
reach a deal (Turkish model)
• Senario-2: Muslim Brothers regain their
popularity through social measure based on
charity approach
• Senario-3: a third party (strategic unity
between the liberals and lefts (organized
movement)
• Senario-4: back to street
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• Long transition period
• No serious change in the economic order
• No change in the power relations in the
region
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