On the occasion of World Health Day 2026, Dianova advocates for health policies based on science, ethics, and human rights to reduce stigma and improve access to healthcare.
April 7, World Health Day 2026 calls on the international community to unite around a strong message: “Together for health. Let’s support science.” In a time marked by misinformation, loss of trust in institutions, and increasing health inequalities, this theme is both urgent and necessary. For Dianova International, it reflects a long-standing commitment: promoting the right to health through evidence-based policies, ethical interventions, and a strong framework of human rights, especially in the field of drug policies.
The theme for this year is not just a call to defend science, but also to apply it. In a world where public discourse is increasingly marked by misinformation and anti-intellectual rhetoric, ensuring that health policies are based on evidence, ethics, and lived experience has become a fundamental challenge.
The right to health: a fundamental yet unequal reality
The right to health is a universally recognized human right. It goes beyond access to healthcare services and includes broader determinants that shape well-being: social inclusion, education, safe environments, and access to accurate information.
However, this right is not uniformly exercised. Structural inequalities continue to exclude many populations from access to quality care. Among the most affected are people who use drugs, who often face overlapping barriers rooted in stigma, criminalization, and social exclusion.
These barriers are not accidental but systemic. They manifest in policies, institutional practices, and everyday interactions, ultimately limiting access to prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services.
Supporting science in times of misinformation
The World Health Organization’s call to “support science” highlights a defining characteristic of the current global context: the erosion of trust in evidence.
In recent years, misinformation has spread rapidly through digital platforms, shaping public perceptions and influencing political debates. In the field of drug use, this has resulted in persistent myths, moral judgments, and resistance to evidence-based interventions, such as harm reduction.
Supporting science means reaffirming that effective public health responses must be based on data, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration. It also means recognizing that science is not neutral in its application: it must be accompanied by ethical principles and a commitment to human rights.
Global initiatives like the renewed Four-Party Memorandum of Understanding on “One Health” reinforce this perspective, emphasizing the interconnected nature of health and the need for coordinated, science-based responses.
Stigma: a structural barrier to health
One of the most significant barriers to health—especially for people who use drugs—is stigma. This operates at multiple levels: social, institutional, and internalized, and conditions both access to care and health outcomes.
Field evidence shows that stigma dissuades people from seeking information, accessing services, or trusting healthcare professionals. It can also lead to discriminatory practices within healthcare systems, such as denial of care or confidentiality breaches.
Stigma is reinforced by language, policies, and cultural narratives framing substance use as a moral failure rather than a health issue. This not only undermines individual well-being but also weakens public health systems as a whole.
Addressing stigma is therefore crucial to realizing the right to health.
From disorder to health spectrum: a paradigm shift
A fundamental step to reduce stigma and improve health outcomes is to rethink how substance use is conceptualized. Dianova International, along with leading organizations like CAPSA, advocates for moving beyond disorder-based frameworks towards a health spectrum approach.
The Substance Use Health Spectrum by CAPSA illustrates that substance use exists along a continuum, from non-use to high-risk use and substance use disorder.
It is essential to note that stigma can occur at any point on this spectrum, affecting access to information and care even for those who do not meet diagnostic criteria.
This paradigm shift allows for:
- Earlier and more effective prevention.
- Inclusive and flexible models of care.
- Integration of harm reduction, treatment, and social support.
- Alignment with intersectional and human rights frameworks.
