After months of mobilization in country circles and thematic groups around the world, 627 activists (352 delegates from 60 countries and 275 from Argentina) gathered in Mar del Plata, Argentina, in April 2024, for the 5th People’s Health Assembly (PHA5) of the PHM.

Alongside activists for the right to health, human rights, health workers, right to health organizations, PSM affiliated and member networks, health policy makers, academics, the Public Services International (PSI) delegation was composed of 12 trade union representatives from Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, which has actively participated in the discussions of the PHA5.

"The 5th People's Health Assembly once again reinforced the political character of the struggle for the realization of the right to health. Workers, communities and the civil society movement must stand up and fight against the commodification of health", says Baba Aye, Global responsible for the Health sector of the PSI and leader of the delegation, which was also composed by the undersecretary for the Andean region of the PSI, Susana Barria and by the responsible for equity in health, Pedro Villardi.

On this occasion, PSI reaffirmed its commitment to the health for all agenda, which is the central axis of the global health movement. In addition, the importance of publicizing the work of the Inter-American Federation of Health Unions and positioning it as a natural ally of the PSM in the region was highlighted. "In this World Assembly we were able to interact with different social organizations. We were able to express our difficulties as health workers of InterAmerica and how health workers throughout the region have been affected by different factors, but mainly by neoliberalism, which has led health workers to try to change their actions and their workplace, and leading to a crisis of lack of human talent in health," said Fabio Melo is the coordinator and president of Sindistritales, from Colombia, and one of the coordinators of the Federation.

Another crucial point was to highlight the relevance of the Decent Work Agenda and the challenges posed by informalization for the proposal of health for all, which is based on the provision of quality public health services. "Our participation in the PHM Assembly allowed us to highlight the importance of decent work and good living for the health agenda for all. We organized an event in which colleagues from Argentina, Brazil and Chile spoke about the challenges and working conditions we face as health workers and the strategies we have developed to overcome them. This is a necessary dialogue that strengthens us as unions that belong to the PSI/PSI Inter-American Health Federation and as part of the broader movement for the right and equality in health for all", Carmen Luz, responsible for the health sector of ANEF, coordinator of the Inter-American Health Union Federation.

In addition, the importance of continuing dialogue and collaboration on specific issues was stressed. In particular, the PSI delegation was participating in panels and discussions on the Pandemic Treaty, the reconstruction of the Social Organization of Care and the promotion of public production of health technologies, such as medicines and vaccines, as public domain goods.

The PHA is an important part of the PHM, as it provides a space for the exchange of experiences, mutual learning and the development of joint strategies for action. It is held approximately every five years.

The Call to Action of this fifth edition reflects the demands and commitments of the People's Health Movement following the debates and discussions prior to and during the People's Health Assembly held in Mar del Plata.