Introduction
HIV/AIDS poses a great challenge not only to
medical science but virtually to all aspects of human life as to social,
economic, political, psychological, religious and cultural as well. Therefore
it requires response from all disciplines.[1]
It related issues, in the worldwide level, also vastly include (i) oppression,
social justice and disease; (ii) poverty, racial and sexual discrimination;
(iii) liberation, social justice, life and healing; (iv) gender and children’s
rights; (v) healing the world, international and human rights; (vi) feminist
perspective on women, sin, disease, healing, wholeness and care.[2]
This paper tries to highlight HIV/AIDS and economic injustice.
Economic
Injustice
Economic injustice/inequality refers to how
economic production is distributed among individuals, groups, population, or
countries. There are three areas on which economic disparity is rampant viz.
wealth, income and consumption. It
varies between societies, historical periods, economic structures and systems.
The term can refer to cross sectional distribution of income or wealth at any
particular period or to the lifetime income and wealth over longer periods of
time.[3] Economic
injustice is a growing social problem in an alarming rate. If the acceleration
is not slowed down, the result will be destructive because it can hinder long
term growth.
The domain of
HIV/AIDS does not lift up a number of justice concerns. Of them, the most
significant issue is that of socio-economic discrimination. Due to the rampant
hysteria about HIV/AIDS, people affected by the virus and the disease have been
experiencing systematic alienation. Denial of fundamental rights such as
housing, health care, education, employment, insurance and the right to live is
a subtle form of discrimination. Hence, the HIV/AIDS infected people are called
the ‘new Dalits’ or the ‘untouchables.’[4]
They suffered socio-economic injustice. Thus, an economic justice perspective
is indispensable in ethical discourse of HIV/AIDS.
Poverty
Poverty is part of the complex structure of
society. The reasons for its existence are many and varied: it is seen as fate
or result of sin from religious perspective, for some it is a result of over
population, or lack of education. Most of the economists define it as lack of
economic growth. C.T. Kurian defined it as “…socio-economic phenomenon whereby
resources available to society are used to satisfy the wants of few, while many
don’t have even met their basic need.”[5]
Amartya Sen explains poverty in relation to the capability of a person who can
purchase food and basic necessities of life.[6]
So, poverty relate to a condition of life in relation to the ownership and use
of resources or capability to have access to basic needs.
As the HIV/AIDS
rate rise, so does the demand for health care. As expenditure increases on this
concern, tax-payers bears must bear the burden. HIV/AIDS is not the only urgent
issue facing the government; the infrastructure is strained and ineffective in
dealing with such health crisis.[7]
It was the poor people who will suffer. Although no one is completely immune
from the disease, it is the economically poorer sections of society who are at
risk. Poverty is both the cause and consequence of HIV/AIDS.
Social injustice and legalized inequality that produces poverty are the basic
factors in the risk of HIV/AIDS infection. HIV/AIDS feeds on structural
problems like poverty. As such, HIV/AIDS can be seen as a product of soci0-economic
injustice of poverty, unemployment, marginalization, and disempowerment. Researches
estimate that 9/10 people with HIV/AIDS live in areas that are haunted by
problems such as poverty, subordination and discrimination of women and sexual
minorities, racism, lack of political will, and huge international debt crisis.[8]
All these contributed to an environment that intensifies vulnerability of human
communities to HIV/AIDS.
Globalization
Globalization is an interaction of
socio-economic-political-cultural-religious systems between different countries.
Its integration of all these aspects of life gets in touch with almost all
human beings practically to the whole world. It is used in three distinct but
inter-related senses viz. ICT revolution, cultural and economic globalization.[9]
There is no doubt that developments linked with all these have opened up
boundless possibilities for human development, new opportunities and enhanced
the quality of life. But, while few people remain with wealth and comfort,
there are lots of people all over the world with poverty and misery. This
imbalance in living led to deterioration in the quality of life.[10]
It is a new form of developed countries’ hegemony over under developed
countries which have three aspects like economic domination, cultural
aggression and political imperialism.[11]
If focusing on its economic policy, it is Western neo-colonial idea to control
the world; a new form of economics exploitation promoted by liberalization in
which WTO, World Bank, IMF and MNCs taking the lead to speed up the process.[12]
It can be defines as trans-nationalization, standardization and legitimization
of global capitalism in which privatization and profiteering marginalized the
majority.[13] It
becomes clear that globalization can be seen from many points of view. One
thing very certain is that it process cannot liberate the poor from the yoke of
misery and hunger, because its underlying principal is maximum profit, capital
accumulation and exploitation of labour supported by global hegemony.
In
this age of economic and cultural globalization, globalization itself acts as a
channel that aids the spread of the dreaded disease. The facets of
globalization that is striking in most Third World countries are on the
scenario of survival and sustainability of industries that depends on human
work force. There is also an intense spirit of promoting tourism, which creates
an un-satiable demand for flesh trade. This is a breeding ground for HIV/AIDS.
Free movement of work force across national borders has also resulted in an
alarming upsurge in sex and drug trafficking.[14]
Globalization with FTA and GATT in international level, and NEP in India in 1990s
developed a massive migrant population. This also enhances the prospects of the
spread of HIV/AIDS. Again, if we look into the labor force movement in
international, national and regional level, whom do we see? The poor and the
middle class people, they are the vulnerable section who suffered injustice of
global economic system.
Pharmaceuticals
The pharmaceutical industry develop,
produces, and markets drugs
or pharmaceuticals
for use as medications.
Pharmaceutical companies may deal in generic
or brand
medications and medical devices. They are subject to a variety
of laws and regulations that govern the patenting,
testing, safety, efficacy and marketing
of drugs. Advertising is common in healthcare journals as well as through
more mainstream media routes. In some countries, notably the US, they are
allowed to advertise directly to the general public. Pharmaceutical companies
generally employ sales people to market directly and personally to physicians
and other healthcare providers. In some countries, pharmaceutical companies also
employ lobbyists
to influence politicians.[15]
In pharmaceutical business, worldwide corporate families and multi-national
companies are in the steering wheel
There is clear division between the rich and
the poor nations when it comes to the questions of research in HIV/AIDS
and access to medicines and treatment of the victims. The protagonist of
economic globalization use, with dexterity, the mechanism of IPRs agreement as
a neo-colonial tool to dominate the global market and thereby extend their
hegemonic control over the Third World economy as well. This has detrimental
consequences for the poor, especially in the arena of health care. A study by
ORG confirms that not less than 44% of drug marketed in India is under US
patents. With this, more than 99% of drugs marketed in India is patented by
MNCs.[16]
Third World countries therefore, find it increasingly difficult to get drug
manufactured in their home countries because of provisions and conditions in
TRIPs agreement. Due to unfair competition from the monopoly patent holders,
indigenous manufacturing firms cannot even endeavor to produce drugs locally.
Thus, the pharmaceutical situation is critically serious in the case of
HIV/AIDS (ART, other medicines) where drugs were to fight the disease. They are
far too costly for the poorer countries and people did not afford to meet their
needs. This injustice issue touches human life issue.
Conclusion
The people with HIV/AIDS suffered economic
injustice with globalized market economy. Since resources and business chains
are in the hands of profit making first class people by means of MNCs and
Finance Institutions, lower and middle working class are the victims of this
imbalance economy because of lesser opportunity. In this sense, HIV/AIDS issue
must be treated as an issue of injustice because majority of the patients comes
from economically poor and socially oppressed section of the society. What next
then? It is the duty of all responsible persons to heal the world, to work out in
our best capacity so that justice can be done.
[1] Samson
Prabakar & George Mathew Nalunnakkal, eds., HIV/AIDS: A Challenge to Theological Education, Reprint
(Bangalore: BTESSC/SATHRI, 2009), v.
[2] K.M.
George, “The Threat of HIV/AIDS: Some Theological Considerations,” in Samson
Prabakar & George Mathew Nalunnakkal, eds., HIV/AIDS: A Challenge to Theological Education., 3.
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_inequality
(17.7.2015).
[4] George Mathew
Nalunnakkal, “HIV/AIDS: Towards an Ethic of Just Care,” in Samson Prabakar
& George Mathew Nalunnakkal, eds.,
HIV/AIDS: A Challenge to Theological Education., 21-22.
[5] C.T.
Kurian, “Planning and Social Transformation,” in Thomas M.J., Understanding Social Analysis (Kolkata:
Sceptre, 2013), 8.
[6] Amartya
Sen, “Poverty and Famine Deprivation: An Essay on Enlightenment,” in Thomas
M.J., Understanding Social Analysis., 8.
[7] Banner
Makan, “Christian Response to HIV & AIDS,” in Razouselie Lasetso, ed., Health and Life: Theological reflections
on HIV & AIDS (Jorhat: ETC Proramme Coordination, 2007), 8
[8] George
Mathew Nalunnakkal, “HIV/AIDS: Towards an Ethic of Just Care,” in Samson
Prabakar & George Mathew Nalunnakkal, eds., HIV/AIDS: A Challenge to Theological Education., 24.
[9] M.A. Oomen, Globalization in the Contemporary World: Towards a Christian
Understanding (Mavelikara, Kerela: Vichara Books, 2009), 14.
[10] A. Wati
Longchar, Returning to Mother Earth:
Theology, Christian Witness and Theological Education (Kolkata:
PTCA/SCEPTRE, 2012), 167-8.
[11] Michael
Amaladoss, ed., Globalization and its
victims: as seen by the victims (Delhi: VIDYAJYOTI/ISPCK, 1999), 239.
[12] M.
Stephen, Introducing Christian Ethics
(Delhi: ISPCK, 2003), 243.
[13] M.A. Oomen, Globalization in the Contemporary World., 10.
[14] George
Mathew Nalunnakkal, “HIV/AIDS: Towards an Ethic of Just Care,” in Samson
Prabakar & George Mathew Nalunnakkal, eds., HIV/AIDS: A Challenge to Theological Education., 24-25.
[15]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_industry (17.7.2015).
[16] George
Mathew Nalunnakkal, “HIV/AIDS: Towards an Ethic of Just Care,” in Samson
Prabakar & George Mathew Nalunnakkal, eds., HIV/AIDS: A Challenge to Theological Education., 25.
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