The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 10th May 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

The ‘right to health’ goal and a role for Taiwan

Why in News?

As the world enters the fourth year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation is gradually improving. Most border restrictions have been lifted and global health governance is now focused on a post-pandemic recovery. Countries have stepped up efforts to achieve health and well-being for all and further the realisation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whose progress was impacted by the pandemic.

What is the Right to Health?

• About:
  • Right to health refers to and means the most attainable levels of health that every human being is entitled to.
  • The origin of the right to health dates as far back as 1946 when the first international organization, World Health Organisation (WHO) came into existence to formulate health terms as human rights.
  • The right to health is an essential component of human dignity, and it is the responsibility of governments to ensure that this right is protected and promoted for all individuals, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status.
  • Part IV of the Constitution under the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) ensures social and economic justice to its citizens. Therefore, Part IV of the Constitution directly or indirectly relates to public policy in terms of health.
• Related Provisions in India:
  • International Conventions: India is a signatory of the Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) by the United Nations that grants the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being to humans including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services.
  • Fundamental Rights: Article 21 of the Constitution of India guarantees a fundamental right to life & personal liberty. The right to health is inherent to a life with dignity.
  • DPSP: Articles 38, 39, 42, 43, & 47 put the obligation on the state in order to ensure the effective realization of the right to health.
  • Judicial Pronouncements: Supreme Court in Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity case (1996) held that in a welfare state, the primary duty of the government is to secure the welfare of the people and moreover it is the obligation of the government to provide adequate medical facilities for its people.
  • Also, in its landmark judgment in Parmanand Katara Vs Union of India (1989), Supreme Court had ruled that every doctor whether at a government hospital or otherwise has the professional obligation to extend his services with due expertise for protecting life.
• Significance:
  • Right Based Healthcare Services: The people are entitled to the right to health, and it creates a compulsion for the government to take steps toward this.
  • Wide Access to Health Services: Enables everyone to access the services and ensures that the quality of those services is good enough to improve the health of the people who receive them.
  • Reduce Out of Pocket Expenditure: Protects people from the financial consequences of paying for health services out of their own pockets and reduces the risk of people getting pushed into poverty.

What are the Challenges Related to Right to Health in India?

• Inadequate Healthcare Infrastructure:
  • Despite recent improvements, India's healthcare infrastructure remains inadequate, particularly in rural areas.
  • India has 1.4 beds per 1,000 people, 1 doctor per 1,445 people, and 1.7 nurses per 1,000 people. Over 75% of the healthcare infrastructure is concentrated in metro cities, where only 27% of the total population resides—the rest 73% of the Indian population lack even basic medical facilities.
• High Disease Burden:
  • India has a high burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, including tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and diabetes.
  • Addressing these diseases requires significant investment in healthcare infrastructure and resources.
  • According to a report by Frontiers in Public Health, more than 33% of the individuals are still suffering from infectious diseases out of the total ailing population in India.
  • The per capita out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure on infectious diseases is INR 7.28 and INR 29.38 in inpatient and outpatient care, respectively.
• Gender Disparities:
  • Women in India face significant health disparities, including limited access to healthcare, higher rates of maternal mortality, and gender-based violence.
  • According to the World Economic Forum 2021, India consistently ranks among the five worst countries in the world for the health and survival of females.
  • Women from poor households account for over 2,25,000 lesser hospital visits than men between 2017 and 2019 for nephrology, cardiology, and oncology services alone,
• Limited Health Financing:
  • India's health financing system is limited, with low levels of public spending on healthcare. This limits the government's ability to invest in healthcare infrastructure and resources, and it can lead to inadequate healthcare services for individuals.
  • Government of India spent 2.1% of GDP on healthcare in FY23. This is much lower than the average health spending share of the GDP — at around 5.2% — of the Lower- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC).

What is the mechanism involved in handling covid-19 pandemic?

• After dealing with SARS, Taiwan established a nationwide infectious disease healthcare network.
• It provides the legal authority for transferring patients with highly contagious diseases to designated facilities.
• This has helped protect health systems and health professionals from being overwhelmed.
• It also allowed most non-Covid-19 health services to continue.

What were the other measures?

• By acting early and effectively, Taiwan also mitigated the economic impact of Covid-19.
• It implemented flexible adjustments for related quarantine measures for vessels and aircraft.
• This helped fisheries, offshore wind farms, and air transport industries continue operations.
• It ensured maintaining essential international, social, economic, and trade activities.
• Furthermore, public trust and cooperation with the government’s response have been key to successfully containing Covid-19.
• In formulating disease control regulations, the government has adhered to the principles of reasonable response, minimum damage, and gradual adoption.
• It also maintained the balance between people’s right to know and personal privacy and freedom.
• It upheld the principle of fairness as well as prioritised the protection of disadvantaged groups, including migrant workers.
• Throughout, Taiwan has emphasised the right to health and associated protections and strong opposition to human rights abuses.

Why is Taiwan’s role in COVID handling significant?

• As of April 30, 2021, there had been 1,128 confirmed cases, including 12 deaths, in Taiwan.
• Life and work have continued much as normal for the majority of the population.
• Taiwan’s response to Covid-19 has been one of the world’s success stories.
• It plays an indispensable role in the global monitoring and early warning systems that detect the threat of emerging infectious disease.
• It has been able to comprehensively participate in and contribute to international Covid-19 supply chain systems, as well as global diagnostics, vaccine, and therapeutics platforms.
• It has made significant longstanding contributions to the international community in public health, disease prevention, and the human right to health.
• This would allow Taiwan to work with the rest of the world.
• These, thus, validate Taiwan’s demand to be included in WHO and its meetings, mechanisms, and activities.