Pluto Press Global Corruption Report 2006: Special Focus - Corruption and Health

"TI has once again shown its ability to combine research and policy analysis not just to shine a light on the deeply embedded problems of corruption ... but to propose progressive solutions." Former World Bank President James Wolfensohn on the Global Corruption Report In the health sector, corruption is a matter of life or death. It can take many forms: from medical professionals who sell medicines or services that should be freely available, to high-level government officials who embezzle money from health budgets, to pharmaceutical companies that buy influence over research agendas. The impact of corruption is always felt by the end user -- the sick person who is forced to pay over the odds or who is given unsafe, counterfeit medicines. The 2006 edition of Transparency International’s Global Corruption Report shows the impact that corruption has on health care in rich and poor countries. From high-level bribery in Costa Rica to informal payments in Hungary, case studies from around the world explore the characteristics of the health sector that make it so prone to corruption. In a special section dedicated to corruption in HIV/AIDS, the report warns that the large sums being poured into fighting the world’s deadliest diseases need to be safeguarded against abuse. There is also a detailed analysis of the problems of the pharmaceutical system. The report also offers an annual round-up of worldwide developments and tracks major trends in more than 40 countries. The Global Corruption Report 2006 is the only report of its kind, and is an essential reference source for anyone who wants the latest research on how corruption affects everything from health to education and the oil and gas industries. Review TI has once again shown its ability to combine research and policy analysis not just to shine a light on the deeply embedded problems of corruption ... but to propose progressive solutions. (James Wolfensohn, World Bank President) Ultimately, it is the responsibility of national governments to deal with corruption. Given the associated sensitivities about international action, regional pressure may be more appropriate; in Africa, the New Partnership for African Development peer review system could become an important tool. (IAPAC Monthly) About the Author Founded in 1993, Transparency International is an international non-governmental organisation based in Berlin, Germany, with national offices in close to 90 countries worldwide. Transparency International is politically non-partisan. Its mission is to build anti-corruption coalitions that embrace governments, the private sector and civil society. It is the only global movement dedicated solely to curbing corruption, increasing government accountability and improving transparency in business transactions.