Paper short abstract:

Global health is the development keyword these days with its promise to fix all the major health problems through biotechnology and private enterprise. In this paper I critique this approach in relation to tribal and low caste peoples of India.

Paper long abstract:

Global health is the development buzzword these days. Promises to fix all the major health problems through a potent combination of biotechnology and private enterprise is the content of the strategy. In this paper I will critique this approach in relation to Tribal and certain low caste peoples who represent a seemingly medicine-free pristine population for genetic mining, clinical trials and so on. Global health, far from being an innocuous and benevolent health development strategy, is very often all about assisting capital circulation into new regions and assisting with monopoly building of private-based healthcare firms. India has a wide range of scholars who have long resisted these kind of vertical and horizontal programs that have been known to fail. Why are these critiques not being heeded? Who benefits and who looses? What role do social scinetists play in facilitating or blocking these arrangements in their spheres of influence?