Health and Human Rights News
News to 31 July 2026
Türk secures reappointment as Human Rights Chief
Volker Türk has been reappointed as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights by an overwhelming 144-10 margin, with the United States, Israel, Russia, and North Korea among those to oppose his return. The decision extends his leadership for a second four-year term, ending October 2030.
Attacks on emergency services in Lebanon
Writing in HHR this week, Rakan Nassereldine, minister of public health in Lebanon, documented 154 attacks on emergency medical services between March 3 and May 25, 2026, resulting in the deaths of 129 emergency medical and health care workers. He insists this is not only as a violation of the laws of war but is an attack on the right to health of every person that vehicle would have reached.
HIV, hepatitis, STI gains at risk as funding falls
The World Health Organization launched a mid-term assessment warning that funding shortfalls are stalling crucial progress on HIV, viral hepatitis, and STIs worldwide. Funding cuts, humanitarian crises and persistent inequalities are widening gaps in care for those most at risk, especially those facing intense stigma and discrimination, such as incarcerated individuals, transgender people, sex workers, and people who inject drugs.
Child malnutrition and displaced care in Sudan
UNICEF is appealing to global leaders to fund mental health resources, medical infrastructure, and food supplies for children uprooted by war in South Kordofan state, Sudan. Displaced families fleeing blockaded communities are inundating specialized nutrition centres.
White doctors win specialty training in UK
Doctors from certain backgrounds are far less likely to be offered specialist training places in the UK than white candidates, reports the BMJ. Across all specialties black doctors are four times less likely to be offered a training place than white applicants, official data from NHS England show.
New UK PM urged to pull out of US-UK drug deal
MPs and health experts have urged new UK prime minister Andy Burnham to withdraw from the US-UK drug deal after an analysis in The BMJ showed it could result in 229 000 excess deaths over the next decade. The deal has committed the UK to doubling the proportion of gross domestic product it spends on new branded medicines from 0.3% to 0.6%.
Sharp rise in uninsured patients in US emergency rooms
Increasing numbers of uninsured patients are showing up in hospital emergency rooms and clinics, having lost their coverage under the Affordable Care Act, reports the NY Times. Hospital executives are concerned over the sharp rise in uninsured patients and the costs associated with treating them.
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