Forum on Law and COVID-19: Strengthening Legal Preparedness and Response for the Future

3-4 November, 2021

Day 2
Thursday 4 November, 2021

Times shown are in GMT+8 (Manila time).

9:00AM-10:30AM SESSION 4 - ENGAGING THE WHOLE OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE COVID-19 RESPONSE TO MEET SURGING DEMAND Moderator:

David Clarke,
Team Leader, UHC and Health Systems Law,  WHO Headquarters
Questions to consider:
*How can legal frameworks support efforts to engage the whole of the health system in health emergency preparedness and response?
*To what extent have legal frameworks supported (or hindered) efforts to engage and coordinate the whole of the health system (all levels, public & private) in the COVID-19 response, including to meet surging demand?
*Has the involvement of the private health sector in the COVID-19 response highlighted the need to alter strategies and strengthen private sector engagement for health generally?
*How have legal frameworks supported the physical and mental health of healthcare workers?
*What are some of the major lessons learned for responding to COVID-19, for future health emergencies, and for building a stronger, more resilient health system?
Expert panel:

Associate Professor Marie Bismark,
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne

Dr Sinoun Koam, Deputy Director, Legislation Department, Ministry of Health (KHM)

Dr Khan Phuong Nguyen, Vice Director – Health Strategy and Policy Institute, Ministry of Health (VNM)

Margaret Asinimbu, Lawyer – National Department of Health (PNG)

Professor Chenguang Wang, Director of Health Law Research Centre, Tsinghua University (CHN)
10:45AM-12:15PM SESSION 5 - BUILDING AND MOBILISING LEGAL CAPACITY FOR THE COVID-19 RESPONSE AND FOR LEGAL PREPAREDNESS BEYOND COVID-19 Moderator:

Associate Professor
Jonathan Liberman
,
Melbourne Law School and Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne
Questions to consider:
*How can we better demonstrate the role that the law plays in supporting effective public health emergency preparedness and response?
*How can we harness the lessons learned and the attention on the role of law to both support the ongoing COVID-19 response, and strengthen legal preparedness for future health emergencies?
*How can we ensure our efforts to strengthen legal capacity and preparedness also contribute to broader health system strengthening and advance UHC?
*How can we use this opportunity to ensure our legal frameworks better protect and promote the health of disadvantaged, marginalized, and hard-to-reach groups during emergencies and at all times?
*What actions can WHO and development partners take to support those at a country level to strengthen legal capacity and implement needed law reform?
*What are the priority actions for building legal capacity for health emergency preparedness, particularly at a country level?
Expert panel:

Professor Son Yoon Kim
, Asian Institute for Bioethics and Health Law, Yonsei University College of Medicine

Hayley Jones, Director, McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer

Miles Young, Director, Human Rights and Social Development, the Pacific Community (SPC)

Dr Rohani Jahis, Head – Zoonoses Control Sector, Ministry of Health (MYS)

Delphina Kerslake, Assistant Chief Executive Officer - Legal, Office of the Director General Health (WSM)

Mele Tagivakatini, Government Lawyer – Department of Justice (NRU)
12:30PM-1:00PM SESSION 6 - CLOSING Wrap-up Associate Professor
Jonathan Liberman
, Melbourne Law School and Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne

Ben Lilley, Technical Officer, Health Law and Ethics Unit, Health Systems and Services Division, WHO WPRO
Keynote AddressDavid Manning, Commissioner of Police and Controller of the National Pandemic Response, Papua New Guinea
ClosingMartin Taylor, Director, Health Systems and Services Division, WHO WPRO