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….: “