BMA calls for action to eliminate child labour and dangerous working conditions in the production of NHS supplies - 27 Jan 10

Source

The BMA’s Medical Fair and Ethical Trade group is today (27 January 2010) launching an information campaign telling doctors about the dangerous working conditions and child labour evident in the production of NHS medical supplies.

The information campaign has been launched in response to a BMA survey of 383 doctors which found that whilst eight in ten doctors are supportive of the NHS purchasing goods that are ethically sourced - only one in ten doctors is aware of fair and ethically made medical supplies.

Dr Mahmood Bhutta, BMA advisor on the BMA's Medical Fair and Ethical Trade Group said:

• “It is clear from this survey that doctors are very supportive of the idea of the NHS buying ethically sourced products, but more needs to be done to raise awareness.
• “Some of the workers in the developing world making medical supplies bound for the NHS are exposed to hazardous working conditions where they risk serious injury and even death. There is also evidence that children as young as seven are risking their lives to supply us with equipment to save British lives.
• “The survey reveals that two in ten doctors are involved in purchasing decisions. We want to provide doctors with information they need to encourage the NHS to look at alternatives so that the lives of workers in the developing world are not put at risk making medical supplies for the health service.”

The BMA has launched a new website, www.fairmedtrade.org.uk which provides a hub for information on the ethical procurement of medical supplies and an information leaflet that challenges doctors to get involved by asking them to consider four simple actions.

The BMA’s Medical Fair and Ethical Trade Group is calling on doctors to:

• Ask their chief executive to adopt ethical procurement into their institution’s policy
• Ask healthcare suppliers where, and under what conditions, they produce their goods
• Form an “ethical trade interest group” in their institution
• Tell others

The BMA has also set up a facebook group which provides a forum for discussion of fair and ethical trade in medicine.

Notes

• The BMA perception survey took place in October/November 2009. It was based on the results of 383 completed interviews of UK doctors.
• Further information is available from the Fair Medical Trade website http://www.fairmedtrade.org.uk
• You can download the information leaflet that supports the campaign at: http://mfetg.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/fairtrade-leaflet-web1.pdf
• The BMA has launched a facebook group for people who want to keep up with the latest information on the campaign: http://tinyurl.com/BMAFairTrade
• Pictures of the working conditions in Pakistan are available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bmaflickr

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