public health call to action

Reclaiming comprehensive public health: a call to action for equitable and effective COVID-19 responses

The Call to reclaim comprehensive public health responds to concerns and missed opportunities in pandemic responses by many countries. It calls on heads of state and government, and others involved in shaping the response to COVID-19, to adopt a set of ten principles and approaches to provide inclusive, just, equitable and effective responses to current and future pandemics.

Reclaiming Comprehensive Public Health: A 10-Point Call to Action

As the world has responded to the COVID-19, it has revealed long-standing tensions between biosecurity- and biomedically-focused approaches to health and approaches that address social determinants, facilitate participation and protect human rights. This call responds to a concern that pandemic responses have failed to prioritise knowledge, equity and rights. Despite decades of evidence of the need for co-operative, participatory, rights-based and evidence-informed public health, these principles are not evidenced in national or global responses seen during COVID-19.

The Call sets out 10 essential principles for a comprehensive approach in countering current and future pandemics.

We invite all involved in health and pandemic responses to read the Call, and if you support the principles, to sign it (personally and/or institutionally) and engage others.

Africa rural

1. Ensure that health interventions are based on collaboration within and across countries

public health call to action

Reclaim comprehensive public health

2. Engage the community in developing pandemic responses

public health call to action

Reclaim comprehensive public health

3. Information used to shape and assess pandemic responses must be accessible, accurate, and timely

public health call to action

Reclaim comprehensive public health

4. Set clear goals relevant to local contexts

public health call to action

Reclaim comprehensive public health

5. Do no harm when responding to public health crises

public health call to action

Reclaim comprehensive public health

6. Balance any pandemic control measures with the protection of human rights

public health call to action

Reclaim comprehensive public health

7. Promote safety and support for health and other frontline workers

public health call to action

Reclaim comprehensive public health

8. Ensure fair and safe access to PPE, vaccines, and other pandemic prevention and control goods

public health call to action

Reclaim comprehensive public health

9. Provide economic and social support for all those negatively affected by pandemic control measures

public health call to action

Reclaim comprehensive public health

10. Provide adequate funding for health and social protection

public health call to action

Reclaim comprehensive public health