Right to health is human right

By Dr Samir Kumar Saha

UNIVERSAL health coverage is based on the principle that all individuals and communities should have access to essential quality health services without facing any financial hardship. It calls for stronger and more equitable health systems to achieve the universal health coverage that leaves no one behind.

The UN General Assembly on December 12, 2012 unanimously endorsed a resolution urging countries to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage — the idea that everyone, everywhere should have access to quality, affordable health care — as an essential priority for international development.

The UN General Assembly on December 12, 2017 proclaimed that December 12 should be observed as International Health Coverage Day. The theme of the day this year is ‘Health for all: protect everyone. To end this crisis and build a safer and healthier future, we must invest in health systems that protect us all — now’.

Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, the theme this year is apt. Campaign 2020 must remind the world that health for all is not a long-term issue, but an urgent priority to end the crisis. It is to prioritise investments in strong, equitable health systems that protect everyone, respond to emergencies and leave no one behind.

The United Nations has adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals for eliminating poverty and building a more resilient earth. One of those goals is to provide universal health coverage. The global coalition of leading health and development organisations emphasises the importance of a universal access to health services for saving lives, ending extreme poverty, building resilience against health effects of climate change and ending deadly epidemics.

To achieve this vision of universal health coverage by 2030, we need collective action now. It is an inherently political goal rooted in right to health. It also makes an economic sense. Health is a human right that no one should go bankrupt when they fall ill and that universal health coverage underpins our collective security and prosperity.

The World Health Organisation affirms that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of health is a fundamental human right. More than half of the world’s countries have included the right to health, public health or medical care in their national constitutions.

Universal health coverage aims at achieving better health and development outcomes, preventing people from falling into poverty because of illness and giving people the opportunity to lead healthier, more productive lives. There is a growing global consensus that universal health coverage is a smart investment and an achievable goal everywhere. Lack of affordable, quality health care traps families and nations in poverty.

SDG 3 includes a target to achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

When health care is accessible and affordable, families can send their children to school, start a business and save for emergencies. Universal health coverage pays a resilience dividend. In times of distress, health minimises the shock to lives and livelihood. In times of calm, health promotes community cohesion and economic productivity. Health is a right, not a privilege. Countries implementing universal health coverage are seeing the benefits.

In Bangladesh, universal health coverage is still a dream. Many people have been deprived of proper health services. We, therefore, need to devise ways to ensure universal health coverage. Traditional medicine can play an important role in ensuring healthcare of all if we can take necessary steps.

According to the World Health Organisation, ‘Traditional medicine refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being.’

The World Health Organisation launched the Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023 for its academic promotion, quality production and mainstream integration into public health care to achieve universal health coverage.

So, the inclusion of traditional medicine in the national health care system can play a complementary role in achieving the objective of universal health coverage. Its accessibility at the doorsteps of the marginalised people will be cost-effective and worthy in view of population coverage and financial burden.

In recent past, there has been a growing interest in traditional medicine/complementary and alternative medicine and their relevance to public health both in developed and developing countries.

Diversity, flexibility, easy accessibility, broad continuing acceptance in developing countries and increasing popularity in developed countries, relative low cost, low levels of technological input, relative low side effects and growing economic importance are some of the positive features of traditional medicine. In this context, there is a critical need for mainstreaming traditional medicine in public healthcare to achieve the objectives of an improved access to health care.

In Bangladesh, alternative medicine care means yunani, ayurvedic and homoeopathic treatment. There are problems prevailing in the health sector, which is hampering health services. There are many poor people who are unable to take health services due to financial crisis.

The day is, therefore, an opportunity to set aside differences and work together for a movement that brings benefits to people and patients and reduces poverty and promotes inclusive growth. Taking necessary steps regarding the traditional system of medicine can contribute to health care. It is hoped that the authorities concerned would look into the matter.

We need to see action plans to guarantee health as a right and not as a privilege. We need to see real investment in society where all can get the quality health care they need and trust without facing any financial hardship. We need to see strong, equitable health system that leaves no one behind.

More financial allocation in the health sector, research on traditional medicine and its proper evaluation by policymakers can go a long way in fulfilling the targets of universal health coverage in Bangladesh.

Dr Samir Kumar Saha is vice-chairperson of the Public Health Foundation, Bangladesh. Courtesy: New Age