International trade agreements have traditionally focused on the trade of goods and commodities. Their scope has, however, been expanded to include services that support trade and, more recently, to align regulation between countries in a number of areas, eg intellectual property, telecommunications investment, government procurement etc. Health services and health care industries account for a significant proportion of employment and production in most countries, and are potentially affected by such agreements. In its fact sheet on International Trade Agreements, the International Council of Nurses encourages national nursing organisations to “work strategically with others in health care so as to influence international trade agreements that have an impact on patient, family and public health, health sector human resources, and health care delivery systems in general”.
The Public Health Associations of New Zealand and Australia have jointly developed and endorsed a statement of principles and on trade and health. It is specific and relevant to Aotearoa New Zealand, te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the Pacific region. It provides a rationale for identified priorities and actions in support of “a fairer regime of trade/investment law that supports health, social and environmental goals, as well as economic development; which prioritises equity within and between countries as a necessary condition for improvement in global population health; and is consistent with international law relating to health, the environment, and human rights.”
Your feedback is requested on a recommendation that NZNO endorse the Statement of Principles which can be found here: http://www.pha.org.nz/policies/PHA-Trade-and-health-position-2015.pdf
The background paper may also be of interest – Draft Trade and Health background paper July 2015
Note also the ICN’s fact sheet on:
Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs)
AND
NZNO’s recent submission on the International Treaty Examination of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.
Feedback due: Please send feedback to marilynh@nzno.org.nz by 30 May 2016