A/HRC/17/43
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
16 March 2011
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Seventeenth session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to
the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical
and mental health
Expert consultation on access to medicines as a fundamental component
of the right to health
Summary
The present report contains a summary of the discussions held and the
recommendations made at the expert consultation on access to medicines as a fundamental
component of the right to health, held in Geneva on 11 October 2010, in accordance with
the Human Rights Council resolution 12/24.
Under the main themes of access to medicines as a fundamental component of the
full realization of the right to health, and emerging issues and existing obstacles to
providing access to medicine as a fundamental element of the full realization of the right to
health, the expert consultation heard presentations from experts, complemented by an
interactive exchange of views and concerns, and made various recommendations relating to
the realization of the right to health and access to medicines. The issues discussed included
the need for States to develop suitable national health legislation and policies and to
strengthen their national health systems. States were called upon to ensure the sustainable
financing, availability and affordability of medicines, and to establish monitoring and
accountability mechanisms.
GE.11-11842 (E)
120411