What Are Health Rights?

Overview for healthcare practitioners and policy makers

Dr. Neelesh Bhandari

MBBS, MD PGP Human Rights

New Delhi, India

edrneelesh@gmail.com facebook.com/drneelesh

 WHO constitution (1948) aims to make highest attainable standard of health as one of the fundamental rights of every human being (without distinction).
Article 12 of The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) was the first document to outline steps which need to be taken to realize Right to Health.

In May 2000, The Committee on Economic , Social and Cultural Rights adopted a general comment (no. 14) on Right to Health.

The General Comment sets out 4 criteria by which to evaluate the right to health.

Availability
Functioning public health and healthcare facilities, goods and services, as well as programs, have to be available in sufficient quantity. .

Accessibility
Health facilities, goods and services have to be accessible to everyone without discrimination, within the jurisdiction of the State party.

Contd.

Contd.

Accessibility
Accessibility has four overlapping dimensions: 1. 2. 3. 4. Physical accessibility Information accessibility Economic accessibility Non-Discrimination

Contd.

Accessibility
Information accessibility includes the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas concerning health issues. However, accessibility of information should not impair the right to have personal health data treated with confidentiality.

Acceptability
Health facilities, goods and services must be respectful of medical ethics, culturally appropriate, sensitive to gender and life-cycle requirements, as well as being designed to respect confidentiality and improve the health status of those concerned

Quality
Health facilities, goods and services must be scientifically and medically appropriate and of good quality.

Working to improve these criteria are steps towards realization of our fundamental

Right to Health.

Imp. Documents
General Comment No. 14 (2000) of The Committee on Economic , Social and Cultural Rights http://bit.ly/nOliAR Article 12 of The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) http://bit.ly/gq5j9L