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CMAJ
Privatizing funding for maternal, child health
F
paulprescott72/iStock/Thinkstock
irst, the federal governOperations, says “these probment radically reset lems are too great for governCanadian foreign aid ments alone to solve.” strategies to focus on maternal Merck for Mothers, has and child health projects. received $500 million from Now, it is transforming how Merck & Co. to improve the those projects — traditionally health and well-being of managed on a not-for-profit mothers during pregnancy basis — are financed. and childbirth. Executive The field is now open to priDirector Priya Agrawal says vate sector investors, Christian the Canadian government’s Paradis, Minister of Internadrive to forge corporate tional Development, emphafinancing within its maternal sized during a webinar with and child health programs is medical researchers from Monpart of a growing international tréal, Toronto and Vancouver movement. on Nov. 14. However, not all observers That message was also are convinced that encouragdelivered to a meeting of some ing profit-oriented entities to 80 international development finance maternal and child groups convened by the Canasurvival programs is advisable. development is being redefined by this governdian Network for Maternal “International “International development ment as economic development,” says one critic of the recent Newborn and Child Health movement toward increased private funding. is being redefined by this gov(CAN-MNCH) on Nov. 5 — a ernment as economic developmeeting that was closed to Bui says Canada now leads efforts ment,” says Arne Ruckert, a media. internationally to inject private capital development financing analyst at the UniGovernment officials are fashioninto maternal and child health projects. versity of Ottawa’s Institute of Population ing “a new financing paradigm” for Paradis chairs a new Redesigning DevelHealth. “And that is paving the way for maternal and child health based on opment Finance Initiative, coordinated by the use of development funds as subsidies forging “public–private partnerships” the World Economic Forum and the for Canadian corporations. We’re seeing with corporations aiming to finance, Organisation for Economic Co-operation the financialization of global health as a and profit from, maternal and child and Development. Its aim is “to extend profit-based industrial sector.” survival programs, says Hieu “Tom” the reach and effectiveness of private Ruckert says corporations that invest Bui, director, Prosperity and Develinvestment” alongside publicly funded in development partnerships have an opment, with the Department of Fordevelopment programs. increased ability to “influence policy eign Affairs International Trade and There are several other private–public making at both the global and national Development. projects now underway. Grand Challevel, and bring direct financial returns, That paradigm actually began in lenges Canada has invested $158 million such as tax breaks and market penetra2011, when the federal government in more than 80 countries and attracted tion, as well as direct financial benefits earmarked development funds for proj$224 million in additional funding from through brand and image promotion.” ects co-financed by Canadian mining outside the Government of Canada, — Paul Webster, Toronto, Ont. companies in regions with high materincluding significant private sector investnal and child mortality ment. Jocelyn Mackie, vice president, CMAJ 2015. DOI:10.1503/cmaj.109-4951
E8
CMAJ, January 6, 2015, 187(1)
©2015 8872147 Canada Inc. or its licensors
CMAJ
Privatizing funding for maternal, child health
F
paulprescott72/iStock/Thinkstock
irst, the federal governOperations, says “these probment radically reset lems are too great for governCanadian foreign aid ments alone to solve.” strategies to focus on maternal Merck for Mothers, has and child health projects. received $500 million from Now, it is transforming how Merck & Co. to improve the those projects — traditionally health and well-being of managed on a not-for-profit mothers during pregnancy basis — are financed. and childbirth. Executive The field is now open to priDirector Priya Agrawal says vate sector investors, Christian the Canadian government’s Paradis, Minister of Internadrive to forge corporate tional Development, emphafinancing within its maternal sized during a webinar with and child health programs is medical researchers from Monpart of a growing international tréal, Toronto and Vancouver movement. on Nov. 14. However, not all observers That message was also are convinced that encouragdelivered to a meeting of some ing profit-oriented entities to 80 international development finance maternal and child groups convened by the Canasurvival programs is advisable. development is being redefined by this governdian Network for Maternal “International “International development ment as economic development,” says one critic of the recent Newborn and Child Health movement toward increased private funding. is being redefined by this gov(CAN-MNCH) on Nov. 5 — a ernment as economic developmeeting that was closed to Bui says Canada now leads efforts ment,” says Arne Ruckert, a media. internationally to inject private capital development financing analyst at the UniGovernment officials are fashioninto maternal and child health projects. versity of Ottawa’s Institute of Population ing “a new financing paradigm” for Paradis chairs a new Redesigning DevelHealth. “And that is paving the way for maternal and child health based on opment Finance Initiative, coordinated by the use of development funds as subsidies forging “public–private partnerships” the World Economic Forum and the for Canadian corporations. We’re seeing with corporations aiming to finance, Organisation for Economic Co-operation the financialization of global health as a and profit from, maternal and child and Development. Its aim is “to extend profit-based industrial sector.” survival programs, says Hieu “Tom” the reach and effectiveness of private Ruckert says corporations that invest Bui, director, Prosperity and Develinvestment” alongside publicly funded in development partnerships have an opment, with the Department of Fordevelopment programs. increased ability to “influence policy eign Affairs International Trade and There are several other private–public making at both the global and national Development. projects now underway. Grand Challevel, and bring direct financial returns, That paradigm actually began in lenges Canada has invested $158 million such as tax breaks and market penetra2011, when the federal government in more than 80 countries and attracted tion, as well as direct financial benefits earmarked development funds for proj$224 million in additional funding from through brand and image promotion.” ects co-financed by Canadian mining outside the Government of Canada, — Paul Webster, Toronto, Ont. companies in regions with high materincluding significant private sector investnal and child mortality ment. Jocelyn Mackie, vice president, CMAJ 2015. DOI:10.1503/cmaj.109-4951
E8
CMAJ, January 6, 2015, 187(1)
©2015 8872147 Canada Inc. or its licensors
