A Global Milestone: Code of Practice for National Public Health Institutes Approved

What Does a Code of Practice Mean for Public Health?

At its core, a Code of Practice is a guideline developed by professionals to outline the principles, values, best practices, legal framework, and recommended behaviors that guide their work. The IANPHI CoP is the cornerstone of the quality framework for NPHIs. It serves as a reference for countries in establishing and improving the institutional framework of NPHIs, the technical work and generation of knowledge, the implementation of health and public health services and interaction with society for how countries can build and strengthen their public health systems.

Ultimately, the CoP communicates the core values of NPHIs to the scientific community, government, and the public.

The Road to Approval

The journey to this landmark approval didn't happen overnight. The seeds were planted back in 2007, when IANPHI published its Framework for the Creation and Development of National Public Health Institutes (PDF). This framework laid out nine key attributes for NPHIs (PDF) — attributes that have now been refined and expanded in the CoP.

One of NPHIs most important principles is scientific independence. This means that NPHIs must remain protected from undue influence on their scientific work — whether it's political, regulatory, private sector, and civil interest groups — so they can make unbiased decisions that benefit public health and maintaining their public and social credibility. However, achieving this independence isn't always easy. NPHIs are public institutions that operate within government structures, balancing independence with collaboration requires careful thought and planning.

In fact, the complexity of this balance sparked discussions as early as 2017, when the topic was presented and discussed at the IANPHI Annual Meeting in Rome, Italy. A working group was formed to tackle the issue, but progress was slow at first. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored just how crucial NPHIs are in times of crisis. With renewed urgency, work on the CoP ramped up, leading to the draft that was presented during the 2024 Annual Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda. After input from members around the world, the final version was approved in December 2024.

A Clear Set of Standards

The CoP is built on seven core principles and provides a detailed list of 27 attributes that represent best practices and standards. These principles aren't just theoretical they serve as a practical checklist that NPHIs can use to evaluate and improve their work. From ensuring accountability to fostering public trust, the CoP is designed to help NPHIs navigate the real-world challenges they face.

Why It Matters

Approving this Code of Practice is more than just a policy achievement — it's a commitment to better public health for everyone. By providing a shared foundation for NPHIs around the world, the CoP ensures that these vital institutions can operate with integrity, credibility, and impact.

In a world where public health challenges are becoming increasingly complex, this CoP is a timely and essential resource. It represents a shared vision for stronger, more resilient public health systems — and a brighter, healthier future for all of us.

Read the Full Document (PDF)

Principles and Attributes

1. PRINCIPLE: CLEARLY DEFINED STRUCTURE AND MANDATE

A clearly defined organisation with specific missions, a legal framework, organisational structure, professional leadership, and ethical values enabling scientific excellence and independence.

ATTRIBUTES

1. Legal framework
2. Organisational structure and functions
3. Dynamic adaptability
4. Professional ethical values
5. Legitimacy and trust

2. PRINCIPLE: ADEQUACY OF RESOURCES

The resources available to NPHIs are sufficient to meet the requirements of the mandate for the NPHIs and the professional quality required. When resources are insufficient to fulfil the mandate, the NPHIs should prioritize activities according to the available resources in agreement with their government.

ATTRIBUTES

1. Human resources, including staff recruitment
2. Sustainable financial resources and financial security
3. Technical resources, including access to data

3. PRINCIPLE: SCIENTIFIC INDEPENDENCE

Scientific independence from policy, regulatory or administrative departments and bodies, as well as from private sector operators and civil interest groups, ensures the best public health impact of NPHIs deliveries and their public and social credibility. Maintaining positive collaborative relationships with all relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, should enhance and uphold scientific independence.

ATTRIBUTES

1. NPHIs' scientific independence should be protected from political influence
2. NPHIs should be protected from commercial or lobbying influence
3. NPHIs are science-based organisations that generate evidence to inform policy and programmes

4. PRINCIPLE: WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The working environment is safe, inclusive, and supportive of all employees.

ATTRIBUTES

1. Health safety and security
2. Human and labour rights
3. Supporting people

5. PRINCIPLE: PRIORITISATION OF WORK

NPHIs prioritise their work based on a systematic and thorough assessment of factors like major health challenges, burden of disease, preventability of disease, likelihood for the preventive measures being implemented, emergency threats, inequalities of health, and public interest.

ATTRIBUTES

1. Focus on major health challenges
2. Equity
3. Public interest and need

6. PRINCIPLE: COMMITMENT TO QUALITY

The NPHIs are committed to quality. They systematically and regularly identify their strengths and weaknesses to continuously improve the working process and output quality. Scientific collaboration with academia and other scientific organisations, including other NPHIs is essential.

ATTRIBUTES

1. Well-qualified staff
2. Quality system
3. Sound methodology and procedures
4. Openness and transparency, open science, and scientific integrity
5. Accountability
6. Cost-effectiveness

7. PRINCIPLE: OPEN AND TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION

Interactions with society should be guided by principles of openness, inclusivity, accessibility, and transparency. Moreover, these interactions should be meaningful to the communities involved. Any communication should priorities the privacy of individuals, particularly those who are vulnerable. During public health events and emergencies, it is important to recognise the presence of uncertainty and the evolving nature of information. To counteract misinformation and disinformation, and maintain public trust, transparent communication that is timely, credible, addresses uncertainty, and is continuously updated as knowledge progresses is essential.

ATTRIBUTES

1. Transparency and sharing of knowledge
2. Two-way communication
3. Inclusivity and engagement
4. Coordination and networks