GENEVA: On this World Health Day and beyond, World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling for governments to make meaningful investments to scale up primary health care; to ensure transparency and accountability; and to meaningfully involve individuals and communities in decision-making around health. To mark World Health Day (7 April), the World Health Organisation (WHO) is running the ‘My health, my right’ campaign to champion the right to health of everyone, everywhere.
The campaign advocates for ensuring universal access to quality health services, education, and information, as well as safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions, and freedom from discrimination.
Recognising the interdependence between the right to health and other fundamental rights, the campaign includes calls to action on finance, agriculture, environment, justice, transport, labour and social affairs.
Individuals, communities and civil society have long defended their r
ight to health, improving access to health care services by breaking down barriers and advocating for equity. WHO urges the public to know, protect and promote their health rights, including those related to safe and quality care, zero discrimination, privacy and confidentiality, information, bodily autonomy, and decision-making.
To expand coverage, an additional?US$ 200-328 billion?a year is needed globally to scale up primary health care in low- and middle-income countries (i.e. 3.3% of national?forecast?GDP). Progress has shown to be possible where there is political will. Since 2000, 42 countries, representing all regions and income levels, succeeded in improving both health service coverage and protection against catastrophic health spending.
‘Realizing the right to health requires governments to pass and implement laws, invest, address discrimination and be held accountable by their populations,’ said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. ‘WHO is working with governments, partners and co
mmunities to ensure the highest attainable standard of health, as a fundamental right for all people, everywhere.’
The right to health is enshrined within the WHO Constitution, and at least 140 countries recognise the right to health in their national constitutions. But recognition alone is not enough, which is why WHO supports countries to legislate the right to health across sectors and integrate human rights into health policies and programmes. The aim of this support is to make health services available, accessible and responsive to the needs of the populations they serve and to increase community participation in health decision-making.
Source: Emirates News Agency