(Press release- Brussels 04 February) Another leaked paper made public today on the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) negotiations shows the ambiguity of the assurances given by the European Union (EU) institution about the protection of public services in trade agreements.
The document, apparently tabled by the government of Turkey, was discussed by EU member states last September at the Geneva TISA negotiations. It suggests an annex on health care services in the TISA that would promote offshoring by facilitating patients’ travel abroad to access health services based on health insurance portability.
This document looks at health services as a tradable commodity and not as a public services in the general interest the principles of organisation of which should be universal access, affordability, democratic control, equality and continuity. As the World Health Organisation explains opening the health sector to the market can create a two-tear system. The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), the most representative organisation of health workers in Europe opposes such move because it will widen social divisions within our society and promote models of health care beyond the local context and support systems for patients.
Jan Willem Goudriaan, General Secretary of EPSU, declares "Yet another leak shows Commission does not play straight on TISA countries' intentions. The Commission has to come forward with clear unambiguous language that demonstrates it will not trade away public services and exclude these services from the negotiations"
In its last congress EPSU decided to mobilise to create a wide debate to ensure that public services will not be liberalised through the back door. This latest proposal also is a dangerous attack on the European Social Model and social protection systems based on financial solidarity and accessible to everybody. EPSU would also defend the need of public investment in health systems and quality health care services, provided by health workers with good working conditions.
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