Independent journalism is increasingly important to understanding the political and financial forces shaping global health, yet the reporters covering these decisions face growing pressure and an uncertain financial future, according to Priti Patnaik, founder and editor of Geneva Health Files.
Speaking with Dr Garry Aslanyan on the Global Health Matters podcast’s Trailblazers with Garry series, Patnaik described the challenges of reporting on international health negotiations, where decisions affecting millions are often made behind closed doors.
“International diplomacy is a deeply unequal field,” she said, pointing to the limited resources available to smaller country delegations and the institutional structures that influence which proposals gain traction.
Patnaik launched Geneva Health Files in April 2020, as COVID-19 forced international negotiations online and increased demand for independent reporting from Geneva. Today, the reader-funded publication reaches approximately 7,000 readers across 150 countries.
Trained in science and financial journalism, Patnaik argues that global health reporting must examine the economic, political and historical forces behind health decisions rather than focusing narrowly on individual diseases.
“Science is technical, but it’s also political,” she said, adding that the political dimensions of global health are frequently overlooked.
That approach has attracted criticism from governments and other stakeholders.
“Global health is a political landmine,” Patnaik said. “No matter what you write and how you write, you’re going to step on toes.”
Financial sustainability remains another challenge. Despite six years of publishing, Geneva Health Files has yet to become commercially viable, highlighting the difficulties facing specialized independent journalism.
Nevertheless, Patnaik remains committed to reporting stories that might otherwise go untold.
“If you don’t tell stories the way we do, a lot of the stories will not get told,” she said.
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Image Credits: Global Health Matters Podcast.
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