Requirement One
International and National Basis Relevant to the Right to the Enjoyment of
the Highest Attainable Standard of Health
(the Right to Health)
Section One: Ordinary people
1. The right to health is a fundamental right, which the state must take action
to ensure that all its citizens enjoy the highest possible standards of it, as
violation of the right to health affects the enjoyment of all other related
rights, in addition to undermining the most important right, which is the
right to life.
2. As regards international human rights instruments, the First Paragraph of
Article No (25) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948
confirms this as it states that, “Everyone has the right to a standard of
living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his
family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and
necessary social services...”
3. In addition, the First Paragraph of Article No (12) of the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which the Kingdom
of Bahrain acceded under Law No. (10) of 2007, 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.”
4. Paragraph (2-d) of Article No (12) of the same Covenant, clarifies that the
measures that the States parties to the present Covenant must take to
ensure the full exercise of this right, must include: “The creation of
conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical
attention in the event of sickness.”
5. On the national level, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain
guarantees the right of everyone to live in a good environment that secures
a healthy and safe life for him. Paragraph (a) of Article No (8) of the
Constitution affirms this right and states that, “Every citizen is entitled to
health care. The State cares for public health and the State ensure
the means of prevention and treatment by establishing a variety of
hospitals and healthcare institutions.”
Section Two: Persons whose freedom is restricted
Ninth Annual Report of the NIHR
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