LAW4547 · Global health law

Overview

The unit provides a basic introduction to the normative foundation and legal structure of key international global health organisations (particularly the World Health Organization) and the processes in international politics and policies directed at realising the fundamental human right of access to basic medical services and the right to science. Barriers (e.g. intellectual property claims of pharmaceutical companies) to equitable access to medical products will be introduced and different responses to these barriers will be considered. You will study the role of international law and instruments touching on global health concerns, and how they differ from national law. Important international legal norms and initiatives that pertain to planetary health (particularly the impact of climate change on health) and medical humanitarianism will be briefly introduced.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate basic understanding of global health law, national and coordinated international responses to and the management of global health hazards, the socio-legal management of and legal responses to risky behaviours.
2. Communicate effectively when undertaking both collaborative and individual activities.
3. Analyse the role of international law and instruments touching on global health concerns, and how they differ from national law.
4. Synthesise information from a range of sources to construct arguments for basic medical services as a fundamental human right.
5. Critically reflect on a case scenario in order to formulate a response to an issue in global health law.
6. Identify and examine the constitution, function, role and effectiveness of the World Health Organization as the key global health organisation.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.