New Delhi 4th March 2006
Dr. Justice A.S.Anand, Chairperson, NHRC has said that the health care facility in the country is appalling and that public sector and private sector need to act in partnership to bring health care facilities for the common people. He said that the Commission acknowledges various constraints of the Governments in providing health care to all but constraints cannot be accepted by citizens for far too long as excuse for the denial of their right to health The State cannot avoid its constitutional obligation with regard to providing health care on account of financial constraints. . He said that in terms of health care facilities the country faces three-basic challenges-accessibility, availability and affordability. Dr. Justice Anand was addressing the participants of the Review Meeting of the Recommendations of NHRC Core Group on Health and Public Hearing on Health organized by the Commission on 4th March 2006 in New Delhi.
Emphasizing that health is not merely absence of disease, Justice Anand said that in the Preamble of the WHO Constitution, health is defined as "state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".
He said that health care facilities be up graded and that the civil society be involved in the matter of preventive health care in rural areas. Let the civil society feel that issues of public health require their public support and come forward to do the needful.
The Commission has consistently taken the view that the right to a life with human dignity, enshrined in the Constitution must result in the strengthening of measures to ensure that the people of this country, and particularly those belonging to economically disadvantaged sections of society, have access to better and more comprehensive health facilities.
The Commission has focused on the issue of 'Right to Health' especially on issues related to silicosis, organ transplant, blood transfusion, HIV/AIDS related issue and Emergency Medical Care. It has organized 5 Regional Public Hearing on Health followed by a National Hearing in December 2004.
The day long deliberations are to consolidate the efforts of past of all the stake holders and role players i.e. the department of health and family welfare both at center and state, the members of the core group and the Commission and to list out the road map for the coming years giving practical recommendations.
Senior officials of the Commission, members of the NHRC Core Group on Health, senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, representatives of State Health Departments and the Members of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, an NGO are taking part in the deliberations.

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