Doctors Reform Society of Australia
			supporting health care reforms to ensure justice, equity and quality care for all
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16.1  The DRS recognises the importance of social and economic inequities and exploitation (e.g. maldistribution of power, wealth, resources, knowledge, education) to poor health and believes long term health improvements in developing countries cannot be achieved without addressing these issues.  The DRS believes the drain of money from developing to developed countries as debt repayments is one such inequity.
The DRS believes:
16.2  Education, equitable land distribution, appropriate housing, sanitation, safe water and environmental protection are essential to health.  The DRS recognises the interdependence between health and agricultural, educational, public works and community development.
16.3  Countries should be encouraged to develop food policies appropriate for their local conditions.  Programs to alleviate poverty and hunger should not rely on food aid which can be inappropriate with the potential to create dependency and disrupt local food production.
16.4  Health programs need to focus on preventive services and public health while recognising curative services are still important.
16.5  Strong local input into health programs is essential to foster self-determination and success.
16.6  Women's status and education are important influences on overall health.  Women's control of their fertility, access to safe pregnancy termination and maternal, child health and family planning programs are essential elements for health delivery.
16.7  Measures that increase successful breastfeeding are important in reducing infant mortality and morbidity.
16.8  The DRS opposes the exploitation of developing countries by transnational companies and others, who seek to profit by dumping and/or promoting drugs, preparations or chemicals that are banned or unacceptable in developed countries.  This includes the promotion of tobacco and alcohol.
16.9  Within Australia:
   16.9.1  The DRS believes Australia should increase its foreign aid to at least 0.7% of GDP.  This aid should go to environmentally and socially sustainable projects and should not include military aid, nor aid conditional on accepting Australian exports.
   16.9.2  The DRS supports the activities of non-government agencies which seek to encourage within health professionals and the general community in Australia an understanding and contribution to health and living standards of populations in developing countries.

.		.	The Doctors Reform Society of Australia, Box 14, 4 Goulburn Street, Sydney 2000. Phone 02 9264-9084 Fax 02 9267-4393.	.
			This page was last updated on 29th January, 2003.
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