Justice Scalia, Challenges to the Affordable Care Act, and a Missed Opportunity to Meaningfully Engage the Right to Healthcare
Justice Antonin Scalia was known for his polarising opinions on fundamental issues in American policy. Yet, his recent dissents in major legal challenges to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are...
Bombay High Court makes Right to Clean Toilets a Fundamental Right for Women in India
Some women in India have to risk their life and sexual integrity when they decide to go to the toilet. Others who do have access to public toilets face the...
Recent Developments in the Australian Health Policy Further Undermine the Right to Health
As a developed country, Australia has a generally high standard of health care. Various kinds of public expenditure support the health of the general population, particularly through Medicare’s bulk billing...
Ebola and Understanding Health Crises as Threats to International Security
On 14 January 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to the two-year Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The epidemic claimed more than 11,300 lives and infected over...
Revisiting Mass Sterilisation in India – Population Management or Menace?
According to the 2011 census, the population of India was recorded as 1.2 billion people. Such a situation calls for urgent measures to address family planning and to control of...
Aboriginal Right to Pursue Traditional Medicine Recognised by Canadian Judge
A Canadian judge has ruled that a constitutional right exists for certain aboriginals in Canada to choose traditional medicines over physician recommended procedures. In August 2014, J.J. (whose identity cannot...
When Policing Meets Health: International Experts call for Improved Alliance between Law Enforcement and Public Health
The 2nd International Law Enforcement and Public Health Conference, organised by the Centre of Law Enforcement and Public Health (CLEPH) and the Law Enforcement and HIV Network took place between...
The Missing Human Rights Impact Assessment of European Union Free Trade Agreements
The European Union is pursuing a proactive policy to conclude free trade agreements with numerous countries around the world. The policy includes major trade partners of the EU such as...
Women’s and children’s health: Evidence of impact of human rights
During 2011-13, I had the fortune to serve as a part-time Senior Human Rights Advisor to WHO Assistant Director-General Flavia Bustreo. The records show that the first Director-General of WHO...
The European Social Charter in Austerity Europe: Damning Conclusions on the Right of Access to Healthcare in Spain
Recent conclusions published by the European Committee on Social Rights (ECSR) present yet another damning indictment of the impact of austerity measures on human rights across Europe. In particular, the...
Gene patenting overruled but leaves lasting repercussions for minorities
Last month, Angelina Jolie penned an op-ed piece in The New York Times about her decision to undergo genetic testing for BRCA mutations (breast cancer susceptibility genes 1 and 2),...
What can we learn from the Novartis case?
By Swaraj Barooah Last week’s decision by the Indian Supreme Court to reject Novartis’ patent application over a leading leukemia drug, Gilvec, has resonated globally. Many hail it as a...
