PLoS: Are Drug Companies Living Up to Their Human Rights Responsibilities? Three Viewpoints

In 2008, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Paul Hunt, made a report to the UN General Assembly (11 August 2008) The Right of Everyone to the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health: Report of the Special Rapporteur, Paul Hunt. U.N. General Assembly, 63rd Session, Agenda Item 67(b). U.N. Doc. A/63/263. See, http://www.essex.ac.uk/human_rights_cent​re/research/rth/index.aspx

In September 2010, PLoS Medicine published the following Debate on drug companies and their human rights obligations.

Are Drug Companies Living Up to Their Human Rights Responsibilities? Three Viewpoints

In September 2010, the PLoS Medicine Debate asks whether drug companies are living up to their human rights responsibilities. Sofia Gruskin and Zyde Raad from the Harvard School of Public Health say more assessment is needed of such responsibilities; Geralyn Ritter, Vice President of Global Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility at Merck & Co. argues that multiple stakeholders could do more to help States deliver the right to health; and Paul Hunt and Rajat Khosla introduce Mr. Hunt's work as the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health (2002-2008), regarding the human rights responsibilities of pharmaceutical companies and access to medicines.


In their accompanying editorial, the PLoS Medicine Editors argue that drug companies should be held much more accountable for their human rights responsibilities.

Editorial

Drug Companies Should Be Held More Accountable for Their Human Rights Responsibilities

PLoS Hub for Clinical Trials, PLoS Medicine:
Published 28 Sep 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000344

The PLoS Medicine Debates

• Are Drug Companies Living Up to Their Human Rights Responsibilities? Moving Toward Assessment
  
  Sofia Gruskin, Zyde Raad
  
  PLoS Hub for Clinical Trials, PLoS Medicine:
  Published 28 Sep 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000310
  
  
• Are Drug Companies Living Up to Their Human Rights Responsibilities? The Merck Perspective
  
  Geralyn S. Ritter
  
  PLoS Hub for Clinical Trials, PLoS Medicine:
  Published 28 Sep 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000343
  
  
• Are Drug Companies Living Up to Their Human Rights Responsibilities? The Perspective of the Former United Nations Special Rapporteur (2002-2008)
  
  Paul Hunt, Rajat Khosla
  
  PLoS Hub for Clinical Trials, PLoS Medicine:
  Published 28 Sep 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000330