Just a
start, obviously. Lots more to be said, nuances to be added, errors to be corrected,
etc.
1. Global health neoliberalism doesn’t consider
it too much of a problem if WHO isn’t sufficiently resourced. PPPs should get
most of the money anyhow, as they ‘get things done’, presumably. Global health’s
“who’s who” are quite happy with the few billionaires (and one in particular) who
help the global health agenda (or at least part of it).
2. The rich & wealthy (including
MNCs & financial sector) are undertaxed, globally, for decades already, which
is part of the reason why Global Public Goods aren’t sufficiently resourced. And
health systems; ànd social protection systems; ànd PPE for health staff, …
3. The Theory of Change of “Power in
global health” counts on “Davos schmoozing” aka “networking” to get some things
done (and funded). Obviously, they just get the peanuts, even on global health
security & pandemic preparedness (which should interest the ‘powers that be’
in principle the most).
4. Meanwhile others engage in fairytale
‘from billions to trillions’ thinking, ‘leveraging’ private capital to get to
some really “innovative” global health funding. That turns out a sick joke,
with the pandemic bonds saga as just one sorry example.
5. The Chinese regime botches the first
month of the Covid-19 outbreak due to the “particularities” of an authoritarian
regime. At that time, perhaps the world still had a chance to avoid the worst.
6. WHO ignores a Taiwan warning (for
too long), for political reasons.
7. Western countries are complacent,
and only start getting really worried once Italy gets hit big time, not (nearly
enough) when they witnessed the horror in Wuhan. Perhaps a combination of
counting on a SARS-containment effect + the ‘far away’ effect? (East Asian countries do better for the same
reasons); meanwhile, too many experts still compare the Covid-19 fatality rate
with annual flu fatality rates – so that also public opinion gets worried
rather late.
8. Right wing populism &
free-market ideology play an additional ‘postponing’ role in some Western
countries.
9. In country after country, the neoliberal
emperor really has no clothes anymore. Again.
10. Turns out that global health
security, indeed, starts at home. Who would have thought?
11. The most narcissistic specimen among
our Western “leaders” start the scapegoating big time. They started way earlier
in the process, of course, but now they're gearing up.
To be continued, i guess...
