PHA-Exch> Report on Health Systems and the right to the highest attainable standard of Health

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC) <ruglucia at paho.org>
crossposted from: EQUIDAD at listserv.paho.org

 *PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC,
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS*

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment
of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
*
Paul Hunt, The Human Rights Centre, University of Essex, United Kingdom*

*Report on health systems and the right to the highest attainable standard
of health. This report (A/HRC/7/11)
 was submitted to the Human Rights Council on 31 January 2008.*

Available online [25p.] at:
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/human_rights_centre/rth/docs/A-HRC-7-11.doc

"……At the heart of the right to the highest attainable standard of health
lies an effective and integrated health system, encompassing health care and
the underlying determinants of health, responsive to national and local
priorities, and accessible to all.

            The Human Rights Council, in its decision 2/108, requested the
Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of physical and mental health to identify and explore
the key features of an effective, integrated and accessible health system
from the perspective of the right to health, bearing in mind the level of
development of countries. This report is a response to that request.

            There is a growing recognition that a strong health system is an
essential element of a healthy and equitable society. In any society, an
effective health system is a core social institution, no less than a fair
justice system or democratic political system. However, according to a
recent publication of the World Health Organization, health systems in many
countries are failing and collapsing.

            The report briefly identifies some of the historical landmarks
in the development of health systems, such as the Declaration of Alma-Ata on
primary health care (1978). Taking into account health good practices, as
well as the right to the highest attainable standard of health, the report
identifies a general approach to strengthening health systems (chap. II,
sect. C). This general approach should be applied, consistently and
systematically, across the numerous elements - or "building blocks" - that
together constitute a functioning health system. By way of illustration, the
report takes the general approach outlined in the report and begins to apply
it to two of the health system "building blocks" (chap. II, sect. E).

            Section F signals how the right to a fair trial has helped to
strengthen court systems and argues that, in a similar way, the right to the
highest attainable standard of health can help to strengthen health
systems….: "



*Content:*

I. INTRODUCTION

II. HEALTH SYSTEMS AND THE RIGHT TO THE HIGHEST ATTAINABLE STANDARD OF
HEALTH

A.    Health systems: some historical landmarks

B.    Definitions

C.    In general terms, a right-to-health approach to strengthening health
systems

D.    The "building blocks" of a health system

E.    Applying the general approach: some specific measures for health
system strengthening

F.    The right to health helps to establish a health system in the same way
as the right to a fair trial helps to establish a
       court system

III.    CONCLUSIONS
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