There is no public health without ethics – Code of ethics and professional conduct for good public health practice

The professional discipline of public health is driven by its values. Public health is not merely a technical discipline concerned with statistics or facts. Our norms, values, beliefs and the way we see the world, as individuals, communities and institutions which serve us, do matter and fundamentally affect our decisions, behaviours, policies, and practice. The WHO-ASPHER road map to professionalizing the public health workforce and the WHO global report on building the public health and emergency workforce, have highlighted the development code of ethics and professional conduct (CoC) as one of the key pillars for professionalizing the public health workforce. There is evidence of significant variations in education and training in public health ethics which is considered a key competency for good public health practice. A joint international group of public health practitioners, ethicists and academics have been formed to develop guidelines and principles and support the development of CoC as part of the professionalisation of public health agenda and build competency and capacity of the workforce. The purpose of this workshop is to provide rationale and evidence on the importance of CoC for good public health practice, share learning, experience and resources, and discuss options and opportunities to advance the agenda in promoting ethical public health practice and policy making. The workshop will briefly share and reflect on the literature and work by the America leadership society, FPH, the Scottish and UK public health community and others. The workshop will provide the thinking and materials from the current International group on the principles and guidelines for development of CoC, and insights on the process, experience and learning in development codes of ethics and professional conduct and seek insights from participants on the implications for day to day public health practice. Among the key issues is appreciating fundamental role of norms and values in public health practice and policy making, and the importance of ensuring such work is linked to a strategy and activities to build competency and capacity around public health ethics and law and to ensure resources, systems and robust education and training activities are put in place for a sustainable development and effective implementation. Specific aims / objectives The session will provide: – insights on the importance and relevance of public health ethics and development of Code of ethics and professional conduct for good public health practice – learning and experience from development of Codes of ethical practice and professional conduct – work by International working group on guidelines, principles and process for development and implementation of Codes of ethics and professional conduct and their implications for behaviour and practice. Key questions: * Why are Codes of ethics and professional conduct key to good public health practice * What are the norms and values for good public health practice * What are the principles, values and processes for development for development of a Codes of ethics and professional conduct and their implications for practice * What are activities and options for building ethical competence and capacity of the public health workforce