Shasthya Andolon network started in 2000 with health activists, researchers, NGOs, scientists, practicing doctors and others to respond to the draft National Health Policy of 2000 with health activists, researchers, NGOs, scientists, practicing doctors etc. UBINIG (Policy Research for Development Alternative) acts as the secretariat of the Network. Shasthya Andolon has been interacting with grass
root organisations and organisations representing women, workers, farmers and people living in remote geographical areas such as Hill Tracts and Char areas to bring important issues for policy advocacy at the government level. The relationship of the network members was also developed with the local government at upazila and Union Parishad level. The grass root experiences are documented and shared to create pressure on the policy makers to take their concerns in policy, plans and programmes. The yearly journal of Shasthya Andolon is called ‘Shasthya Odhikar’. Media reporting on healthcare has been going on but there was no particular link with the health activism and media. Sensitising the journalists on health policy changes and the need for bringing peoples voices was very much necessary.
