Seven proposals for the Model Law on Health Data Governance

Sara (Meg) Davis, Sharifah Sekalala, et al. PLOS Blogs: Speaking of Medicine and Health

Read Original

The Model Law on Health Data Governance is critiqued for its gaps, with proposals for inclusive, rights-based approaches to tackle inequities, ensure accountability, and build trust in digital health.

Key insights include:

– The need for meaningful and diverse participation in shaping health data governance laws.

– Addressing historical power imbalances in digital health systems.

– Establishing accountability measures to prevent data colonialism by multinational corporations.

– Recognising and respecting diverse local contexts in health data governance frameworks.

– Building public trust and ensuring strong human rights safeguards in digital health initiatives.

The authors urge a comprehensive approach to health data governance that acknowledges historical inequities and incorporates diverse perspectives. They stress the importance of public trust and call for robust human rights protections in digital health policies. The article serves as a call to action for more inclusive and equitable health data governance frameworks.

Read more