ANNUAL REPORT 2020
Legal frameworks to build equitable health systems
The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging governments around the world to manage, coordinate and expand the key building blocks of a well-functioning health system. The rule of law and good governance have proven central in the context of global public health emergencies and are critical tools for advancing the right to health through financing, access to information, delivery of services and medicines and upholding human rights safeguards. Governments face the challenge of enacting emergency public health legislation in ways that are consistent with human rights obligations. Without sound legal frameworks and functioning justice institutions the right to health remains elusive for the least powerful and most disadvantaged in society. During health crises, it must be considered whether laws are equitable, transparent, offer protection and prohibit discrimination so that the greatest burdens do not fall on vulnerable, marginalized and impoverished people. In 2020, IDLO published The Vital Role of Law in the COVID-19 Response: Key Lessons from Advancing the Right to Health outlining key lessons that can support states as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and advance Sustainable Development Goal 3, for healthy lives and wellbeing, and Sustainable Development Goal 16, for peaceful, just and inclusive societies. The publication draws from a 2017 report, Advancing the Right to Health, co-published by the World Health Organization, IDLO, the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University, and the University of Sydney.
KEY LESSONS: 1. Maintaining the rule of law and good governance is essential to ensuring health, justice and inclusiveness. 2. Strong legal and policy frameworks help prevent and mitigate consequences of public health emergencies. 3. The rule of law is vital to control transmission of infectious diseases and ensure respect for basic human rights. 4. Rule of law and good governance are indispensable to realize the right to health during COVID-19 and beyond.
IDLO continued its partnership with the World Health Organization and the International Development Research Centre to help prevent non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, through healthy diets and physical activity. Not only are these conditions the leading cause of death worldwide, but they are also considered underlying health risks for developing severe and life-threatening COVID-19 cases. Piloted in Bangladesh, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Uganda, the program focuses on capacity building for more effective regulatory and fiscal interventions, the development and use of relevant research, and multistakeholder dialogues.
“COVID-19 illustrates that good health can only be assured collectively, through global collaboration, mutual support and accountability for implementing the building blocks for global health security.” Professor Roger Magnusson, The University of Sydney and co-author of Advancing the Right to Health © tuastockphoto / Adobe Stock
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