Making right to health a fundamental right will be a way forward in improving healthcare services, says NHRC Chairperson

PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi, 6th November, 2013

The two-day national conference on health care as a human right organised by the National Human Rights Commission concluded in New Delhi today by making several key recommendations to improve the healthcare system. Echoing the sentiments of various experts, who participated in the discussions, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC, in his concluding remarks, said that making right to health, a fundamental right in the Constitution would be an important way forward in improving the overall health services scenario and providing universal healthcare in the country.
He said that malnutrition, particularly in children and women, quality of medical care and drugs, shortage of funds, doctors and para-medical staff, improvement in medical education system to make it more need-based were among various issues, which were impacting the health sector.
Some of the States have implemented cost-effective methods in healthcare, which should be replicated as a model throughout the country. Justice Balakrishnan said that the Commission would further streamline these recommendations, which will be sent to the Government for implementation.
Earlier, Mr. Kesav Desiraju, Union Health Secretary said that if the accessibility of health services is ensured, there may not be any need of a legislation for right to health. He appreciated the issues and some of the innovative ideas raised during the deliberations. He agreed that suggestion on registration of births and deaths in all States would ensure better policy direction and the government is already working on it. The importance of the suggestion to serve hot cooked food to all women during pregnancy and six months after childbirth cannot be undermined, but it should not be sought to be served through Anganwadis going by the experience of ICDS.
The recommendations were mainly focused on availability, accessibility, quality and affordability of healthcare services through better regulation, integration and convergence of State and Central child and maternal health schemes, providing potable water and promoting hygiene and sanitation through policy and awareness, removal of distinction between APL and BPL for access to healthcare, medical care facility to the rescued bonded labourers and those exposed to occupational health hazards, appointment of Health Ombudsperson in every district to ensure accountability of health services, augmentation and production of generic drugs, OPD/IPD access to all common diagnostic tests, removal of two child norm as a incentive/disincentive for all policies, action against unauthorized tapping of water and protection of existing water bodies.
Several prominent speakers addressed the conference, who included, among others, NHRC Members, Mr. Justice Cyriac Joseph, Mr. Justice D. Murugesan, Mr. Satyabrata Pal and Mr. Sharad Chandra Sinha, Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Hrudalaya Hospital, Bangaluru, Mr. Manoj Jhalani, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. H. Sudarshan, Member NHRC Core Advisory Group on Health, Mr. Satyabrata Sahu, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Several experts, representatives of Central and State Governments, civil society also participated in the discussions.

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