EP. 183 – Reforming health laws for better outcomes (Mandeep Dhaliwal, United Nations Development Programme)

Mandeep Dhaliwal, Director of the HIV and Health Group at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) joins host Janelle Wrigley to discuss how legal frameworks and governance shape health outcomes worldwide. Drawing on more than 25 years at the intersection of health policy and human rights, Mandeep explains the UNDP's mission and her experiences showing that leadership and participation from affected communities must be at the center of effective public health policy.

Mandeep and Janelle explore how punitive laws around HIV drive-up infections, deaths, and costs. They discuss how countries can engage in reform, such as Zimbabwe's repeal of HIV criminalization after a UNDP‑supported legal environment assessment, and they examine access‑to‑medicines barriers tied to patents and trade agreements. Mandeep suggests practical ways communities and legal professionals can advance change in this critical area.