Public access to health information as a human right

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Dec, 1992

* At the national level, each government should review its own rules and regulations relating to the dissemination of surveillance and other epidemiologic data. Measures should be introduced to protect public health officals in the exercise of their legitimate functions, specifically ensuring that they retain the authority to release and disseminate public health information.

At the same time, governments have the right--and responsibility--to protect their citizens from baseless rumors that can alarm the public or provoke unwarranted sanctions from foreign countries. Their best defense is to develop a reputation of openness in their reporting of epidemiologic surveillance data so that they earn the confidence of their own people and of their neighbors.