In September 1978, the WHO International Conference on Primary Health Care adopted the Alma-Ata Declaration with the promise of achieving health for all by the year 2000. The Alma-Ata Declaration laid the foundations for primary health care, a huge step forward in closing the gap in the social determinants of health.

By the end of the 1990s, right to health activists were already warning that the world had failed to keep the WHO promise and the right to health would enter the new millennium with an enormous debt. In fact, that goal became pure utopia as soon as the 21st century began.

Health activists and civil society organizations gathered in 2000 in Savar, Bangladesh, to denounce the unfulfilled promises of health for all. The aim of their protest was to consolidate the fight for the right to health in the first People's Health Assembly. To this end, they issued the People's Charter for Health, which marked a turning point in the struggle for the right to health.

The first PHA took place in 2000 in Savar, Bangladesh, and was preceded by months of global mobilization and resulted in the People's Charter for Health (PCH) and the beginning of the People's Health Movement. The PCH is the founding document of the PHM and is still relevant today, 25 years after its conception.

In 2005, the PHA2 was organized in Latin America, in Cunca, Ecuador. Hundreds of health activists from around the world gathered and adopted the Cuenca Declaration, which provided a strategic vision for the PHM.

PHA3 took place in South Africa, in Cape Town, in 2012. The many health activists from over 70 countries produced an action-oriented Cape Town Declaration focused on the thematic areas of the Health for All campaign.

In 2018 in Bangladesh, Dhaka, the fourth assembly led to a renewed focus on building our movement, the importance of social mobilization and strengthening the thematic campaign. The Dhaka Declaration clearly emphasized the commitment of all those present to Health for All.

The People's Health Movement, activists and organizations for the right to health, health workers, affiliated networks and partners from all corners of the world, came together to hold the 5th People's Health Assembly in Mar del Plata, Argentina, in April 2024.

After months of mobilization in country circles and thematic groups around the world, 627 activists (of which 352 came from 60 countries outside Argentina and 275 from Argentina) met in Mar del Plata (Argentina) to celebrate the PHA5, six years after the PHA4 and the PHM's struggle for equitable access to vaccines and treatments against COVID-19.

At its assembly, the People's Health Movement rose up against the violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the recent assaults on the right to health, especially in the shadow of war, forced migration and crises in different parts of the world.

The Movement raised its voice against the overwhelming control of transnational corporations over the world economy, health and social security systems.

Taking a stand against the corporatization, commercialization and colonization of public goods, the Movement highlighted the disastrous consequences of corporate domination, emphasizing the urgent need for systemic change. The assembly emphasized the profound role of women in the struggle for health, peace and gender justice. And it adopted “Good Living” as a means and struggle for Health for All.
Mar del Plata Call to Action.

The 2024 Call to Action gathers the demands and commitments of the People's Health Movement after the debates and discussions prior to and during the 5th People's Health Assembly held in Mar del Plata, Argentina. It should be read together with the reference document of the 5th People's Health Assembly PH5: The struggle for health: Facing the role of capitalism and imperialism.

The Call to Action envisages a world in which people can enjoy their lives to the full, with decent work, full participation in health issues and the removal of the political, economic, cultural and social obstacles and limitations that prevent the existence of comprehensive, quality health and education systems. Our vision is based on “Buen Vivir” - and on promoting the health of Mother Earth.

Download the PHA Declarations

Charter For Health Podcast: The Origins of PHM

In this episode of Charter for Health we dig into the origins of the People’s Health Movement and how its creation has influenced and reshaped the activism for the right to health.

A direct conversation with Claudio Schuftan, physician, pediatrician, a tireless activist for the right to health. Claudio is Co-founder of the People's Health Movement.

Charter For Health Podcast: How a PHA is organized 

In this episode of charter4health we address the holding of the fifth People's health assembly in Mar del Plata, Argentina in April 2024. its discussions, scope and the logistical, financial and political challenges involved in its organization.

A special guest for a special episode of the Charter4Health podcast, Carmen Báez, co-convenor of the fifth People's Health Assembly Mar del Plata, Argentina 2024, she is also co-coordinator of the PHM Latin America south sub-region. She is long time activist and medical doctor. She was part of the argentinian exiles in Africa, her experience, exile transformed into solidarity. Studying by doing and providing health through love and play.