International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Is It Time to Say Farewell to the ISDS System?; Comment on “The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Is It Everything We Feared for Health?”

Document Type : Commentary

Author
Raphael Lencucha
School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
10.15171/ijhpm.2016.125
Abstract
Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) continues to plague health-oriented government regulation. This is particularly reflected in recent challenges to tobacco control measures through bilateral investment agreements. There are numerous reform proposals circulating within the public health community. However, I suggest that perhaps it is time for the community to explore a stronger position on ISDS. I draw from mounting evidence on the problematic uses of the ISDS to explore the proposition that ISDS is no longer justified. I tackle the normative question of shouldthe ISDS system persist and point out that the ISDS system is not justifiable from a development perspective and because of its nefarious use, is of no added value to a system that could rely on domestic courts.
Keywords
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement
Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS)
Health Policy
Government Regulation
Subjects
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International Journal of Health Policy and Management
Volume 6, Issue 5
2017
Pages 289-291

  • Received Date 09 August 2016
  • Revised Date 05 September 2016
  • Accepted Date 06 September 2016
  • First Published Date 01 May 2017
  • Published Date 01 May 2017