Journalist and writer Simon Singh has been named health campaigner of the year at the annual awards of the Medical Journalists’ Association.

The award reflected a year of public outcry over the effect libel laws have on scientific debate as pressure group Sense About Science was also recognised and presented with the health charity of the year prize.

Sense About Science and Singh have both campaigned for reform of England’s libel laws to protect medical and scientific discussions since Singh was sued by the British Chiropractic Association over criticisms made in an article for The Guardian about claims that chiropractic medicine was effective against childhood ailments like asthma and ear infections.