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Dear colleagues,
I write to you as the incoming president of the EUPHA law and public health section (EUPHA-LAW) for 2026-2028. Thanks for your interest! To kick off our activities in 2026, please complete the 2026 member survey (link) as briefly or fully as you wish by Monday 19 January. It should take 10 minutes at most – your input at this early stage is invaluable!
The world is in turmoil. Public health faces multiple threats including declining budgets, disinformation, climate change and related environmental crises, wars and lesser conflicts, populism and unsustainable economic policies. We need science-informed, human rights-based public health laws and policies across Europe and beyond.
Every public health issue has multiple legal aspects. Think of the commercial determinants of health, which frame our lived and consumer environments; patents and access to medicines; discrimination against people with living HIV or cancer. Think also of the governance structures that regulate public health decision-making and funding. All are governed by law.
As recognised in the WHO-ASPHER Competency Framework (2020), competency in law is an essential component of the public health toolbox. The ASPHER Core Curriculum for Public Health (2024) devotes an entire chapter to ‘Law for Public Health’ (Chapter 12).
We have over 1,000 subscribers to the EUPHA-LAW Section Newsletter – a geographically diverse, multidisciplinary group comprising students, early and mid-career professionals, and seasoned experts – all with a common interest in and commitment to strenthening public health policies and practices.
Certainly, this can include reforming or rescinding ineffective laws that hinder public health!* This also includes a focus on implementation – for example, the role of the police, security and emergency services in protecting and promoting public health – e.g. in preparation for, during, and after heatwaves, wildfires and floods. Mitigating climate change and its impacts must be a top priority for the public health community.
Again, please complete the survey as briefly or fully as you wish by Monday 19 January.
The survey asks about your experience in public health law and policy and priority areas of interest – you can simply provide a link to your online profile if you wish.
The survey also invites your comments on the draft outline of the EUPHA-LAW Strategy 2026-2028.
We would welcome expressions of interest from public health law experts who could occasionally advise EUPHA pro bono.
Also, we welcome interest in joining the EUPHA-LAW steering committee and taking on EUPHA-LAW activities: policies and position statements, European Public Health Week events, European Public Health Conference and pre-conference, Outreach and Communications etc. These are great opportunities to grow your network and build professional relationships with like-minded colleagues across Europe and beyond.
In Q1 2026 we will summarise and report back on your collective responses, update the Strategy, convene the Steering Committee, and draft the workplan.
Best wishes for the Holiday Season!
David Patterson
Groningen Centre for Health Law
University of Groningen, Netherlands
email: dpatterson@healthlawdc.com
*Advancing the right to health: the vital role of law (WHO, 2017)
Summary guide and update to advancing the right to health: the vital role of law (WHO, 2018)
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