we are building a movement to make the right to health a reality
Making the right to health real
Change happens when people come together. We’re working with others to change the systems that shape health – and to make sure the right to health is protected in law and in practice.
Government has a responsibility to protect the right to health. That means making sure it is at the centre of laws, policies and decisions that affect people’s lives.
That includes:
- tackling the root causes of health inequality
- involving communities in decisions that affect them
- being accountable when people’s rights are not met
When rights guide policy, services work better – and fewer people are left behind.
It is time for everyone in the UK to enjoy quality healthcare, good living and working conditions and a healthy environment – not as a privilege, but as a right.
This is how we move from crisis response to prevention. From inequality to fairness.
How we're doing this
We’re working with partners across the UK to make the right to health real in practice.
- Developing tools for civil society
- Influencing national policy and debate
- Bringing together expertise on health and inequality
- Publishing research to drive change
What we’re calling for
We’re urging the UK Government to:
- Create strong legal protection for the right to health
So public bodies in the UK must consider health and fairness in every major decision.
- Take action on the causes of health inequality
Through rights based joined up policy on housing, income, work, environment and access to services.
- Listen to lived experience
People most affected should be meaningfully involved in shaping the solutions.
- Be accountable
With clear standards, transparent decisions, and real consequences when systems fail.
- Commence the socio-economic duty in England and Northern Ireland
This duty would mean that public bodies would need to think about how their decisions and policies affect people on low incomes. Socio-economic inequality is a key driver of ill health.
Latest news
The UK Government’s Health Bill was announced in the Kings Speech on 13 May. The bill has now reached Committee Stage at the House of Commons.
In May 2026 we responded to the UK Government’s consultation on SEND reform. We recommended that the rights of children and young people with SEND, particularly the right to health, must explicitly be reflected in policy and practice.
In April 2026 the Health Foundation released a report on life expectancy trends, which is falling across the UK. Read it here.
- In January 2026 we made a submission to the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare: Call for Evidence. Read it here.
Join US
Download the right to health report, plain english summary and toolkit for civil society organisations.
Read and share our key messages.
Download the AAAQ framework & PANEL framework.
Read our recent blogs on the right to health here.