The political economy of consulting firms in reform processes: the case of the World Health Organization

Eckl, Julian; Hanrieder, Tine

doi:10.1080/09692290.2022.2161112

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…This influence has also permeated international organisations such as the WHO, where philanthropic organisations are using their financial clout to distort health priorities 17. Additionally, through the financing and support of private consultancy interventions that reproduce their ideologies at intergovernmental organisations, philanthropic organisations maintain decision-making powers at the highest structures of governance, often at the expense of member states and formalised stakeholders 18. These agenda-setting privileges result in health interventions that ignore deep-rooted structural socioeconomic factors and often result in failure 19…”

Section: A Review Of Global Health Colonialitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Colonialism in the new digital health agenda

Sekalala,

Chatikobo

2024

BMJ Glob Health

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The advancement of digital technologies has stimulated immense excitement about the possibilities of transforming healthcare, especially in resource-constrained contexts. For many, this rapid growth presents a ‘digital health revolution’. While this is true, there are also dangers that the proliferation of digital health in the global south reinforces existing colonialities. Underpinned by the rhetoric of modernity, rationality and progress, many countries in the global south are pushing for digital health transformation in ways that ignore robust regulation, increase commercialisation and disregard local contexts, which risks heightened inequalities. We propose a decolonial agenda for digital health which shifts the liner and simplistic understanding of digital innovation as the magic wand for health justice. In our proposed approach, we argue for both conceptual and empirical reimagination of digital health agendas in ways that centre indigenous and intersectional theories. This enables the prioritisation of local contexts and foregrounds digital health regulatory infrastructures as a possible site of both struggle and resistance. Our decolonial digital health agenda critically reflects on who is benefitting from digital health systems, centres communities and those with lived experiences and finally introduces robust regulation to counter the social harms of digitisation.

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Section: A Review Of Global Health Colonialitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Colonialism in the new digital health agenda

Sekalala,

Chatikobo

2024

BMJ Glob Health

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“…The global health space has these two players: the givers and the takers. At the manifest level, for those that carry the pains or burden of others through philanthropy, they do, owing to 20,21 The global health space is characterized by multi-actor with somehow hidden or open power inequalities. The value-laden donations of super-philanthropists have the tendency of disempowering or marginalizing the recipients, 20 due to the privilege (the super-donors have) to set the agenda.…”

Section: Latencies In Polio-philanthropy In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, there is gradual involvement of purely for profit‐private organizations and consulting firms in health interventions. Hence, there is nothing like total altruism but imbued hegemonic stance and inputs into reform packages favoring certain contents with self‐effacement which question altruism and accountability 20,21 . The global health space is characterized by multi‐actor with somehow hidden or open power inequalities.…”

Section: Latencies In Polio‐philanthropy In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence, there is nothing like total altruism but imbued hegemonic stance and inputs into reform packages favoring certain contents with self‐effacement which question altruism and accountability. 20 , 21 The global health space is characterized by multi‐actor with somehow hidden or open power inequalities. The value‐laden donations of super‐philanthropists have the tendency of disempowering or marginalizing the recipients, 20 due to the privilege (the super‐donors have) to set the agenda.…”

Section: Latencies In Polio‐philanthropy In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Polio‐philanthropy in Africa: A narrative review

Amzat

Razum

Kanmodi

2023

Health Science Reports

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Background and Aim: Polio eradication efforts including polio-philanthropy have been coordinated and sustained since 1988, with the introduction of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). The polio fight is sustained in the name of evidence-based benevolence or beneficent philanthropy from which Africa has benefited immensely. With the recorded polio cases as of 2023, more efforts and funds are required to eradicate polio. Hence, it is not yet "Uhuru." Using the Mertonian lens, this study examines polio-philanthropy in Africa, its unintended consequences, and crucial dilemmas, which could impact the polio fight and polio-philanthropy.Methods: This is a narrative review that relies on secondary sources obtained through a thorough literature search. Only studies published in English were utilized.The study synthesized relevant literature in line with the study objective. The following databases were consulted: PubMed, philosopher's index, web of knowledge, Google Scholar, and Sociological Abstracts. Both empirical and theoretical studies were utilized for the study.Results: Despite significant achievements, the global initiative has shortcomings when examined through the Mertonian lens of manifest and latent functions. The GPEI sets a unilinear goal within multiple challenges. The activities of the philanthropic giants manifest in disempowering rigor, multisectoral neglect, and parallel (health) systems, sometimes, inimical to the national health system. Most philanthropic giants often operate vertically. It is observed that, apart from funding, the last phase of polio-philanthropy will be defined by some crucial factors, the 4Cs:Communicable disease outbreaks, Conflict, Climate-related disasters, and Conspiracy theory, which could impact the prevalence or resurgence of polio. Conclusion:The polio fight will benefit from the persistent drive to reach the finish line as scheduled. The latent consequences or dysfunctions are general lessons for GPEI and other global health initiatives. Therefore, decision-makers should calculate the net balance of consequences within global health philanthropy for appropriate mitigation.

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“…Scholars also highlight the multitude of health actors globally, challenges tracking their funding (McCoy et al., 2009), limits to enforcing or investigating a country's efforts to protect health of its people (Taylor, 2021), and why they may fall short of lofty goals as a result (Watkins et al., 2012). Because of these limitations, individuals may take public health matters into their own hands (Elbe et al., 2023; Harris, 2017) and organizations may seek advice from external consultants (Eckl & Hanrieder, 2023).…”

Section: Influence Of Global Health Ngos and Igosmentioning

confidence: 99%

The sociology of global health: Inequality, disease‐related stigma, and the rise of nongovernmental organizations

Leonard

2023

Sociology Compass

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This article is a review of global health literature, emphasizing the evolution in health terminology in recent decades and noteworthy research areas of global health. This review identifies global inequality and disease‐related stigma as key social determinants of health and central problems improving health outcomes. Within global health, there is a growing discourse surrounding health disparities, particularly among the world's most disadvantaged populations. Additionally, the field notes an increase in global health nonprofits, international governmental organizations (IGOs), and regulatory bodies. As such, this paper examines the scope of empirical global health research with consideration of inequality and stigma as well as the role of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in health outcomes for the developing world. The review also discusses the role of IGOs and global health regulatory bodies in shaping development and health outcomes. A broad review of literature finds that although chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are currently the largest cause of poor health in the world's most impoverished nations, these are largely untargeted by NGO efforts, which may exacerbate the state of global inequality. However, the impact that NGOs could have on ameliorating the effects of NCDs remains understudied and is a promising direction for future scholarly efforts.

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The political economy of consulting firms in reform processes: the case of the World Health Organization

Cited by 13 publications

References 41 publications

Colonialism in the new digital health agenda

Colonialism in the new digital health agenda

Polio‐philanthropy in Africa: A narrative review

The sociology of global health: Inequality, disease‐related stigma, and the rise of nongovernmental organizations

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