Groningen Centre for Health Law

In een multidisciplinair onderzoeksproject gefinancierd door het Longfonds gaat hoogleraar gezondheidsrecht Brigit Toebes met onderzoekers uit andere disciplines op zoek naar de aard en reikwijdte van rookvrije ruimtes; zones binnen en buiten waar niet gerookt mag worden.

I was this week in New York, at the United Nations. More specifically I participated in the UN High Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage as a representative of the Medicus Mundi International Network Health for All!

There was once a dream. A dream that led to the establishment of the United Nations (UN) in 1946 whereby an idealistic view of international cooperation was regarded as a key mechanism to prevent war and free humanity from widespread misery.

Organizing health might seem to be an easy task. Universities or other research institutes produce epidemiological data on health-risk behaviour such as smoking or negligent driving regarding NCDs, or produce forecasts on the likely future burden of various diseases or disabilities

“Dear Pharma,” writes the Dutch Minister of Health, Bruno Bruins in an open letter in the daily newspaper the Volkskrant, “Last week two messages jumped out for me in the press. One nice message: two new important cancer drugs are included in the basic [coverage] package.

The New York Times reports that US officials threatened to unleash trade sanctions and withdraw military aid from Ecuador unless it withdrew a resolution at May’s World Health Assembly calling on governments to “protect, promote and support breast-feeding”.

Immunisations prevent disabilities and mortalities resulting from infectious diseases. They are one of the most cost-effective, widespread used public health interventions.[1] However, increasing numbers of parents seek exemptions from vaccinating their children.

In Ethiopia, from 11 to 18 June 2019, the internet was completely closed down; this means the country was without internet for eight consecutive days.

Chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are the most important public health challenge of our times. Four behavioral risk factors are at the root of these diseases: smoking, excessive use of alcohol, unhealthy diet and a lack of physical exercise.

Women in labour carry a series of reproductive and patients’ rights. Appertaining to this reproductive freedom, they have the right to choose the method of childbirth and the right to refuse any medical intervention.