Fair Medical Trade:
The Human Cost of Healthcare
Helen ReillyPublic Affairs Officer, BMA Scotland
Two questions:
• Do you think it is wrong for workers in developing countries to risk their lives to produce medical supplies?
• Have you ever wondered where the equipment used by the NHS comes from?
• Migrant workers from some of the world's poorest countries are working in bonded labour to produce disposable gloves with risk of burns from hot latex and inadequate fire protection.
• Many of the surgical instruments used in the NHS, are made in terrible working conditions in developing countries like Pakistan, by children as young as seven.
What is the BMA doing?• Research • Raising public and political awareness
– Webpage– Press releases– Journal articles– Briefings for MPs and MSPs
• International collaboration• EU lobbying
What is the BMA doing: Supporting the NHS• Ethical Procurement for Health is available at the
following link: www.ethicaltrade.org/resources/key-eti-resources/ethical-procurement-for-health-workbook
• eLearning resources: are available and accessible to all at the following link: http://training.loreus.com/login/index.php
• The Human Cost of Healthcare designed to raise awareness is available at the following link: www.fairmedtrade.org.uk
Take action
“First do no harm”
