CPATH FTAA Forum, Miami 2003.

CPATH coordinated and organized a successful Public Hearing on the impact of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) on public health and health care during the FTAA Ministerial meeting on November 19, 2003, in Miami, Florida.  A national steering committee brought together public health and health care organizations with grassroots labor, economic, and social justice advocates, to speak out about the impact of the FTAA on public health and health care, and to influence opinion among policy makers, the media, and the public

 

A distinguished Public Hearing Tribunal of respected leaders heard and responded to testimony from diverse panels of health care givers and users of health services from Florida and across the U.S., Canada, El Salvador, Brazil, and the Caribbean.  The group collaboratively developed an organizational sign-on statement calling for Public Accountability in international trade negotiations. 

 

At the hearing, for the first time, speakers brought to light the wide range of health concerns regarding “free” trade agreements in a public international forum.  Their concerns included: threats to professional licensing standards; national public health systems throughout the Americas; public accountability and regulation of water; tobacco and alcohol control measures; the quality of patient care; fair treatment for immigrant and US-based health care workers; and access to affordable medications for seniors and people with AIDS.

 

Groups that CPATH coordinated with to organize the event included: Unite for Dignity; SEIU; Public Services International; Physicians for Social Responsibility; Women’s Edge; and the Alliance of Retired Americans.  The hearing was videotaped.