Articl ; i ri and control of diseases 16. “The prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases” (art. 12.2 (¢)) requires the establishment of prevention and education programmes for behaviourrelated health concerns such as sexually transmitted diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS, and those adversely affecting sexual and reproductive promotion of social determinants health, and the of good health, such as environmental safety, education, economic development and gender equity. The right to treatment includes the creation of a system of urgent medical care in cases of accidents, epidemics and similar health hazards, and the provision of disaster relief and humanitarian assistance situations. The control of diseases in emergency refers to States’ individual and joint efforts to, inter alia, make available relevant technologies, using and improving epidemiological surveillance and data collection on a disaggregated basis, the implementation or enhancement of immunization programmes and other strategies of infectious disease control. article 12.2 (d). The righ healt facilit 17. "The creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness" (art. 12.2 (d)), both physical and mental, the provision of equal and pursued with minimum resource implications through the adoption, modification or abrogation of legislation or the dissemination of information. The Committee recalls General Comment No. 3, paragraph 12, which states that even in times of severe resource constraints, the vulnerable members of society must be protected by the adoption of relatively low-cost targeted programmes. 19. With respect to the right to health, equality of access to health care and health services has to be emphasized. States have a special obligation to provide those who do not have sufficient means with the necessary health insurance and healthcare facilities, and to prevent any discrimination on internationally prohibited grounds in the provision of health care and health services, especially with respect to the core obligations of the right to health,’* and services includes the grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, physical or mental disability, health status (including HIV/AIDS), sexual orientation and civil, political, social or other status, which has the intention or effect of nullifying or impairing the equal enjoyment or exercise of the right to health. The Committee stresses that many measures, such as most strategies and programmes designed to eliminate health-related discrimination, can be timely access to basic preventive, curative, rehabilitative health services and health education; regular screening programmes; appropriate treatment of prevalent Inappropriate health resource allocation can lead to discrimination that may not be overt. For example, investments should not disproportionately expensive curative health services which are accessible only to a small, privileged fraction population, rather than primary and preventive favour often of the health care benefiting a far larger part of the population. diseases, illnesses, injuries and disabilities, preferably at community level; the provision of essential drugs; and appropriate mental health treatment and care. A further important aspect is the improvement and furtherance of participation of the population in the provision of preventive and curative health services, such as the organization of the health sector, the insurance system and, in particular, participation in political decisions relating to the right to health taken at both the community 20. The integrate in order to promote better health for both women and men. A gender-based approach recognizes that biological and socio-cultural factors play a significant remedying inequalities in health. Lt 15 34 entitlements for their procurement, See para. 12 (b) and note 8 above. cure ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS HANDBOOK States heaith- related policies, planning, programmes and research Women and that their data according to sex is essential for identifying and 18. By virtue of article 2.2 and article 3, the Covenant proscribes any discrimination in access to health care and underlying determinants of health, as well as to means Committee recommends a gender perspective in role In influencing the health of men and women. The disaggregation of health and socio-economic and national levels. Article 12. Special topics of broad application Non-discriminati Gender perspective and the right to health 21. To eliminate discrimination against women, there is a need to develop and implement a comprehensive on 16 For the core obligations, see paras. 43 and present General Comments. 44 of the