Business and the 'right to health' in international human rights law
Lead Research Organisation:
Lancaster University
Department Name: Sociology
Abstract
Transnational Corporations (TNCs) operating in the healthcare sector, especially pharmaceutical companies,
have an often-negative impact on those who rely heavily on the medicines they produce. The artificial raising
of drug prices (Kuchler, 2019; Rapaport, 2019) as well as widespread healthcare-sector corruption, (Toebes,
2010) stemming from a profit-motivated culture, impacts upon healthcare policy and provision (Germain,
2019). Illustrative, is Mylan Pharmaceuticals' 600% price-rise of the life-saving EpiPen (Odden et al, 2017);
reportedly causing parents to send their highly-allergic children to school with expired medication; unable
to pay the extortionate price-rise (Voyles, 2019). As such, this research examines the effectiveness of
international mechanisms of ensuring the accountability of healthcare-sector TNCs which violate the 'right
to health'. The timeliness of this research cannot be understated, given the reported potential for a post-
Brexit UK-US trade deal to exacerbate the growing power of US pharmaceutical companies and their impact
on drug-price rises in the UK (Barnett, 2019).
have an often-negative impact on those who rely heavily on the medicines they produce. The artificial raising
of drug prices (Kuchler, 2019; Rapaport, 2019) as well as widespread healthcare-sector corruption, (Toebes,
2010) stemming from a profit-motivated culture, impacts upon healthcare policy and provision (Germain,
2019). Illustrative, is Mylan Pharmaceuticals' 600% price-rise of the life-saving EpiPen (Odden et al, 2017);
reportedly causing parents to send their highly-allergic children to school with expired medication; unable
to pay the extortionate price-rise (Voyles, 2019). As such, this research examines the effectiveness of
international mechanisms of ensuring the accountability of healthcare-sector TNCs which violate the 'right
to health'. The timeliness of this research cannot be understated, given the reported potential for a post-
Brexit UK-US trade deal to exacerbate the growing power of US pharmaceutical companies and their impact
on drug-price rises in the UK (Barnett, 2019).
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Sigrun Skogly (Primary Supervisor) | |
Thomas Peck (Student) |
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ES/P000665/1 | 30/09/2017 | 29/09/2027 | |||
2386684 | Studentship | ES/P000665/1 | 30/09/2020 | 29/09/2024 | Thomas Peck |