whenever the need arises.
follow-up. The NIHR received (80) complaints, of which (30) complaints were
related to the individual’s right to the
enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of health (the right to health).
One of these complaints was lodged by
an ordinary person, whereas the remaining (29) complaints were received
from inmates in reform and rehabilitation centers or pre-trial detention centers.
2. In the same context, Paragraph (2)
of Article No. (25) of the Standard
Minimum Rules for the Treatment
of Prisoners indicated that every
prisoner has the right to seek the
services of a qualified dental officer.
3. Viewed regardless of the legal status of a person, the right is guaranteed under Paragraph (1) of Article
No. (12) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which states that, “the
States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical
and mental health.” In addition,
Paragraph (2-d) of Article No. (12)
clarified that the measures to be
taken by States parties to the present Covenant to ensure the full exercise of this right include those
necessary to “the creation of conditions which would assure to all
medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness.” Paragraph (a) of Article No. (8) of the
Constitution affirms this right and
considers that “every citizen is entitled to health care”.
The complaints received by the NIHR,
and the actions taken thereon can be
summarized as follows:
First: Ordinary people
1. The NIHR received a complaint from
an individual with special needs physical disability (F.A.A), about disregarding his condition when his medications are being dispensed at the Salmaniya Medical Complex, despite presenting his disability ID card, as the
waiting time is too long when persons
with special needs are treated in the
same way as the rest of the patients in
the waiting lines. Consequently, the
NIHR sent a letter to the government
hospitals to speedily consider finding a
mechanism to make facilities available
as much as possible (in general) for
persons with special needs. The concerned entity responded that government hospitals are keen to provide all
possible facilities with regard to the
various services provided, and that
the pharmacy provides medicine delivery service to homes, and the patient can benefit from such service instead of attending in person. Moreover, it explained that there is a specialized office at the outpatient pharmacy
to help patients with disabilities and
that it can extend its services to assist
the patient with any related service. In
Requirement Two
NIHR’s Efforts in Protecting the Right
to the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Health (the Right
to Health)
Section One
Received complaints
The NIHR played a major role in receiving complaints related to human rights
of all types, examining them and referring what it deems necessary to the
competent authorities, with effective
56