2021 National Human Rights Situation Report
21
B. Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
Right to Health
COVID-19 Response
89
The Declaration of Alma-Ata has reaffirmed that health is not “merely the absence of
disease or infirmity” but “a state of complete physical, mental and social well being” and
“a fundamental human right that the attainment of the highest possible level of health is
a most important world-wide social goal whose realization requires the action of many
other social and economic sectors in addition to the health sector.” Looking at the social
determinants of health foregrounds how much non-medical factors (such as the daily living
conditions of people and structures and systems) influence health outcomes.72
90
General Comment No. 14 also provides that health is a “fundamental human right
indispensable for the exercise of other human rights” and that “every human being is
entitled to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health conducive to living
a life in dignity.” 73
91
Both the Declaration of Alma-Ata and General Comment No. 14 point out that it is
imperative to address the social determinants of health to address health inequities.74
92
The realization of the right to the highest attainable standard of health contains four
essential elements, conditions, and standards: availability, accessibility, acceptability, and
quality:
a
Health availability refers to a sufficient quantity of functioning public health and
health care facilities, goods, services, and programs, and underlying determinants of
health.
b
Health accessibility refers to health facilities, goods, and services accessible to
everyone within the State party’s jurisdiction. It has four overlapping dimensions:
non-discrimination, physical accessibility (within safe physical reach), economic
accessibility (affordability), and information accessibility.
c
Health acceptability maintains that all health facilities, goods, and services must be
respectful of medical ethics, culturally appropriate, sensitive to gender and life-cycle
requirements, and designed to respect confidentiality and improve health status.
d
Health quality means that health facilities, goods, and services must be scientifically
and medically appropriate and of good quality.
72
HUMAN RIGHTS CENTERS MANAGEMENT OFFICE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
CENTER. (2021). Vaccination for All: Monitoring of the January to June 2021 COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout.
Commission on Human Rights.
73
HUMAN RIGHTS CENTERS MANAGEMENT OFFICE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
CENTER. (2021). Vaccination for All: Monitoring of the January to June 2021 COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout.
Commission on Human Rights.
74
HUMAN RIGHTS CENTERS MANAGEMENT OFFICE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
CENTER. (2021). Vaccination for All: Monitoring of the January to June 2021 COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout.
Commission on Human Rights.