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The right to health and international drug control, compulsory treatment for drug dependence and access to controlled medicines 2010, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- The non-prices measures of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control provide the best examples of the protections and regulations that may replace the existing enforcement-based framework. Such measures include regulation of drug content, education and awareness-building, and measures concerning dependence reduction and cessation. Implementation of these measures would secure the right to health by, inter alia, ensuring supply of unadulterated drugs, increasing individual and community awareness to minimize risk, and ensuring access to appropriate treatment, where necessary. There generally are high levels of implementation among Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on nearly all of these measures, suggesting similar possibilities for currently controlled drugs.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
The right to health and international drug control, compulsory treatment for drug dependence and access to controlled medicines 2010, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- Compliance with procedural requirements associated with stocking, supplying and prescribing scheduled medications can be burdensome for health-care institutions and workers, creating a barrier to supply of these medications. Such procedures, for example, include restrictive licensing of controlled medicines within health-care institutions. In some countries, it is reported that only "Level 1" hospitals are allowed to prescribe opioids. Regulations also limit the substances a doctor may prescribe, or the amount that can be prescribed. Certain States require health-care workers to obtain special licences to prescribe morphine, in addition to their professional licences. Restrictive laws are a particular problem in the cases of methadone and buprenorphine, drugs used for OST. In some States use of these drugs is outlawed.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Health financing in the context of the right to health 2012, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- In order to reduce the negative effects of regressive premiums and adverse selection within a multiple payer system, participation in a health insurance pool should be compulsory. Compulsory participation ensures universal insurance coverage and allows for the use of equalization mechanisms, or risk adjusters, to facilitate cross-subsidization between different pools. For instance, a percentage of the funds of low-risk pools may be required by law to be transferred to high-risk pools under particular circumstances. States may also directly regulate private insurers by, among other measures, limiting the information they are permitted to collect about potential pool members, restricting the manner in which premiums are calculated, and prohibiting the exclusion of individuals with pre-existing health conditions from insurance pools. Government insurance programmes should also provide coverage for the poor or other vulnerable or marginalized groups who are excluded from private pools owing to their inability to pay, because of pre-existing health conditions or because they are high-risk of poor health. For example, individuals employed in dangerous work may be denied health insurance because of increased health risks and workers in low-paying jobs may be unable to afford high premiums charged by private insurers. Under the right to health, States have an obligation to ensure that these individuals have access to health services through health insurance. This obligation may be met through appropriate regulation of private health insurers, the subsidization of private insurance premiums or the availability of government-run insurance programmes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Health financing in the context of the right to health 2012, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- Social health insurance programmes must be funded through compulsory contributions in the form of prepayments in order to achieve universal access to good quality health facilities, goods and services and robust cross-subsidization of financial and health risks. Voluntary contribution schemes may help raise funds in the absence of widespread payment and pooling, familiarize individuals with the benefits of insurance, and serve as an intermediate funding mechanism that eases the transition towards a more inclusive compulsory contribution scheme, but they do not necessarily increase rates of insurance coverage because enrolment is not compulsory. In contrast to a system of voluntary contributions, compulsory contribution schemes prevent wealthy and healthy members from opting out of the programme and diluting the size of the pool at the expense of poorer and sick members. Compulsory schemes also prohibit individuals from buying into the programme only during times of medical need. While voluntary contributions may help raise funds in the absence of widespread payment and pooling, familiarize individuals with the benefits of insurance, and serve as an intermediate funding mechanism that eases the transition towards a more inclusive compulsory contribution scheme, they do not necessarily increase rates of insurance coverage because enrolment is not compulsory. Voluntary schemes are thus ineffective in increasing access to health facilities, goods and services for the poor because they do not generate large enough pools to facilitate robust cross-subsidization.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Right to health in conflict situations 2013, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- Contemporary conflicts take a variety of forms, including internal disturbances, protests, riots and civil strife and unrest, in addition to armed conflicts as addressed under international humanitarian law. They also include occupied territories and territories with constant military presence where populations may be affected by conflict for many years despite the lack of active hostilities. The report defines State obligations in relation to the right to health in all such conflict situations. Situations which do not meet the criteria for armed conflict or occupation are governed exclusively by human rights law, including the right to health. Armed conflict however is governed by international humanitarian law as well as human rights law.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Right to health in conflict situations 2013, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- States are obliged to utilize the maximum available resources towards the realization of economic social and cultural rights, including the right to health. An aspect of this obligation is that the right to health is progressively realizable. However, due to the destruction or diversion of resources to military or police needs, conflicts often reduce the availability of resources which may, at times, be detrimental to the right to health. Even where resources are available, States may not be able to make use of them due to the insecurity and poor infrastructure in many conflict environments.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Right to health in conflict situations 2013, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- Furthermore, the right to health framework imposes upon States certain core obligations. Core obligations are minimum essential levels of the right to health, non-compliance with which cannot be justified even in times of resource constraints as they are non-derogable. These include, inter alia, the obligation of States to ensure equitable distribution and access to health facilities, goods and services on a non-discriminatory basis, especially for vulnerable or marginalized groups; the obligation to provide essential medicines; and the obligation to formulate a national health plan or policy in a transparent and participatory way, taking into consideration the special needs of vulnerable populations. Therefore, even if conflicts result in resource constraints, States are required to ensure the availability, accessibility and acceptability of good quality health facilities, goods and services, especially to groups rendered vulnerable by conflict.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Right to health in conflict situations 2013, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- The obligation to protect the right to health requires States to prevent interference by third parties. States should ensure that third parties such as health professionals do not violate the right to health by providing health care in a discriminatory manner. States in conflict may face unique challenges with respect to the obligation because of the presence of armed groups operating beyond the control of the State. In such cases, States should take concrete steps to provide protection for health-care workers and individuals seeking health-care services. States should also formulate policies on engaging with third parties, such as non-State armed groups, over their responsibility under human rights law or international humanitarian law, such as the obligation of States to make available health facilities, goods and services and the responsibility of non-State armed groups to refrain from preventing delivery of health care.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- This does not mean that role of health sector should be restricted to specialized health care. On the contrary, the scenario of ministries of health preoccupied mainly with meeting the need of specialized health-care services is an outdated one. The role of the health sector is becoming increasingly important in areas such as health promotion, prevention of health problems and protection of human rights, especially within health-care services, with particular attention given to the situation of marginalized groups. In the promotion of a "health in all policies" approach, the health sector should take the lead and share responsibility for societal health with other sectors.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is concerned that primary care and the modern public health approach often lose the battle for resources to the biomedical model and vertical programmes of treatment of diseases through specialized health care. When resources are allocated to specialized health care, that may reinforce power asymmetries and funding imbalances, which often favour powerful groups representing vested interests in the health sector and industry. States, when meeting their obligation to protect, respect and fulfil the enjoyment of the right to health, should be aware of, and be willing and able to address, such power asymmetries. They should also provide mechanisms for independent monitoring, as such mechanisms are essential tools in ensuring accountability.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Report of the SR on the right to health and Agenda 2030 2016, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- The many synergies between the Sustainable Development Goals and the right to health notwithstanding, there are a number of challenges. Many of the health-related targets are reductive in their approach and do not reflect critical right-to-health elements. A superficial interpretation of the health indicators threatens to undermine the fulfilment of right-to-health obligations, for example to ensure that health-care coverage is not merely expanded but that it meets critical right-to-health requirements, including availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality. Many of the Goals' health-related targets and indicators focus narrowly on biomedical aspects, despite the requirement to ensure that health promotion and primary care are grounded in human rights and modern public health principles. The commitments made in the Declaration of Alma-Ata and the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986, should be reaffirmed and revitalized by all stakeholders, and the ninth Global Conference on Health Promotion should serve that purpose.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Report of the SR on the right to health and Agenda 2030 2016, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- The present section provides only a very brief introduction to the right-to-health framework and some of the ways in which it can reinforce, strengthen and advance the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. It is important to recall a fundamental difference between human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals. While the Sustainable Development Goals are political commitments, the right to health gives rise to legally binding obligations on States to progressively realize the right to health, as well as duties on the part of other actors, and to do so in the context of their policies and programmes on the Goals.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Report on expert consultation on access to medicines 2011, para. 49a
- Paragraph text
- [On the basis of the presentations and discussions, the Special Rapporteur believes the expert consultation suggests that States should:] Establish an adequate legal framework for the realization of the right to access to medicines;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Corruption and the right to health 2017, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- There are particular challenges to transparency in the health sector. Asymmetric information between providers, payers and users leads to provider or user moral hazard. Information is divided between a multitude of different actors, including regulators, payers, providers, users and suppliers, which reduces transparency. There are many varying ways to improve transparency depending on the context. For example, transparency in procurement is enhanced through public access to procurement bidding results, monitoring of the prices paid and analysis of bids. Transparency in recruitment can be supported through the publication of criteria. Transparency through the promotion of information that sets out the services and treatments to which individuals are entitled and how these services are reimbursed can help minimize inequalities in access to care through corrupt practices. The publication of transparent waiting lists can negate the practice of bribery to access more rapid treatment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
The right to health and development 2011, para. 18c
- Paragraph text
- [The right to health framework complements current development approaches by underlining the importance of aspects such as participation, community empowerment and the need to focus on vulnerable populations. The right to health analytical framework "unpacks" the right to health, making it easier to understand and apply in practical settings. Its key elements are as follows:] Recognition that the right to health imposes some obligations that are of immediate effect, and are not subject to progressive realization;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The right to health and development 2011, para. 18e
- Paragraph text
- [The right to health framework complements current development approaches by underlining the importance of aspects such as participation, community empowerment and the need to focus on vulnerable populations. The right to health analytical framework "unpacks" the right to health, making it easier to understand and apply in practical settings. Its key elements are as follows:] The objective of ensuring that all health services, goods and facilities shall be available, accessible, acceptable and of good quality;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 110
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur considers the active and informed participation of all stakeholders to be one of the key elements of the analytical framework of the right to health. There is growing understanding and evidence that top-down relations between governments and local authorities and populations, including civil society, and paternalistic relations between health personnel and users of health-care services do not effectively contribute to the realization of the right to health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- One of the significant obstacles to the implementation of modern public mental-health principles is a lack of political will, including on global health agenda, to recognize the centrality of mental health in the full realization of the right to health and to implement the principle of parity between physical and mental health. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that, despite clear evidence of the increasingly heavy burden of mental ill-health, many important stakeholders continue to marginalize this field of health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Report of the SR on the right to health and Agenda 2030 2016, para. 102
- Paragraph text
- The 2030 Agenda provides momentum to pave the way, both in developing and developed countries, for sustainable investments in modern public health policies and break the vicious cycle of poverty, inequities, social exclusion, discrimination and violence. States and other actors implementing the Sustainable Development Goals must not be tempted to target the "low-hanging fruit" at the expense of the most marginalized and vulnerable.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Report of the SR on the right to health and Agenda 2030 2016, para. 103b
- Paragraph text
- [As a matter of priority, the Special Rapporteur recommends that:] Member States ensure attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals through the review of existing national and local legal and policy frameworks to assess their compatibility with the right to health and ensure that national laws, policies and programmes include targeted actions to support enabling legal and policy environments, with attention to the rule of law, health governance, law enforcement and access to justice;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Report of the SR on the right to health and Agenda 2030 2016, para. 103m
- Paragraph text
- [As a matter of priority, the Special Rapporteur recommends that:] Member States ensure that the focus on access to essential medicines and other life-saving interventions does not neglect equally important non biomedical interventions, including psychosocial interventions, that promote mental and physical health and well-being, reduce violence and contribute to the realization of the right to health and the Sustainable Development Goals;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Unhealthy foods, non-communicable diseases and the right to health 2014, para. 67a
- Paragraph text
- [With a view to making accountability and remedial mechanisms available and accessible to victims of violations, the Special Rapporteur recommends that States take the following steps:] Ensure that international investment and trade agreements are entered into with full transparency and participation of affected groups by conducting open discussions before, during and after negotiation of the agreements;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- Without a well-established infrastructure of primary health care, all achievements of modern science and the practice of medicine might be compromised and could be misused. When health policy chooses to prioritize specialized services, the latter tend to function without the necessary ethical and human rights safeguards, leading to barriers in access to services for people and groups who have more health needs or to the ineffective use of those services, or to both.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Right to health and criminalization of same-sex conduct and sexual orientation, sex-work and HIV transmission 2010, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that any domestic legislation concerning HIV transmission should be based on a right-to-health approach; that is, States must comply with their obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the right to health through the enactment of such legislation. Most relevantly, the obligation to protect requires States to take measures to protect all vulnerable or marginalized groups of society, and the obligation to fulfil similarly requires steps to assist individuals and communities to enjoy the right to health - particularly those who are unable to realize the right themselves.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Occupational health 2012, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- The informal economy can be defined as a diversified set of economic activities, enterprises and workers that are not regulated or protected by the State. As defined by the ILO, the informal sector consists of "private unincorporated enterprises" which are not registered under specific forms of national legislation. Informal employment, however, is broader in scope and consists of all employment in the informal sector, plus those workers employed informally within the formal sector. The informal economy includes both the black economy, which seeks to avoid taxation and regulation, and the criminal economy, which deals in illegal goods and services. However, the black and criminal economies account for only a small share of the informal workforce. Most informal enterprises and workers deal in legal goods and services, and operate in a semi-legal, but not deliberately illegal manner.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Occupational health 2012, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- More research about the informal economy and informal workforce is needed at the local and national levels. The lack of disaggregated data, in particular, prevents States from understanding the demographic landscape of the informal economy and the particular vulnerabilities faced by informal workers. States must systematically engage informal workers in order to effectively conduct human rights and health impact assessments and risk surveillance, with a view to identifying and controlling known risks, as well as epidemiological and disease surveillance to detect and manage disease and prevent long term risks.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Occupational health 2012, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Informal work and workplaces do not fall under the purview of existing national occupational health laws therefore the employer-employee relationship in the informal economy goes unregulated. States have an obligation to fulfil workers' right to health through direct occupational health interventions in the informal economy. In some instances, this may require formalization through the introduction or extension of occupational health regulations into the informal economy. The ILO and other organizations have attempted to address the occupational health vulnerability of informal workers by implementing programmes in coordination with national governments aimed at reaching informal workers. These include the integration of occupational health services into primary health-care services; participatory health and safety training programmes for informal street vendors initiated by local governments and various efforts to extend social health insurance coverage in the informal sector. A number of interventions tailored to the needs of specific industries have also been implemented.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Occupational health 2012, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- There are additional means by which States can address the right to health in the informal sector. These include social health insurance schemes tailored to address the sector-specific health risks faced by workers throughout the informal economy; occupational health service provision at work sites; and primary health care interventions designed to educate and train workers about occupational health. The obligation to fully realize the right to occupational health for workers in the informal economy falls directly on States. In some instances, this may require formalization through the introduction or extension of occupational health regulations in the informal economy. Where this is not possible or feasible, States should then take all necessary steps (short of those that would eliminate these jobs) to mitigate harm stemming from such employment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Health financing in the context of the right to health 2012, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- Social health insurance programmes often rely on compulsory wage-based contributions, which may fail to identify and include those whose incomes are not formally reported or easily assessed, such as informal workers, self-employed persons and workers in rural and remote areas. For example, informal workers who may qualify for absolute exemptions or reduced contributions are difficult or impossible to identify through compulsory wage-based social health insurance programmes and thus may not be enrolled in these programmes. Such individuals may be unable to access good quality health facilities, goods and services owing to unaffordable out-of-pocket payments. Under the right to health approach, States should use innovative strategies to include the informal sector in social health insurance programmes. For example, associational taxes, in which an association representing a particular group of workers collects funds and pays into the tax system, have been shown to increase the participation of informal sector employees in formal benefits programmes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Occupational health 2012, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- The obligation to ensure access to occupational health services may be met through the direct provision of services by the State or through social health insurance that covers all workers against occupational diseases and injuries. In most cases, social health insurance must be provided by the employer. Where this not possible, States must provide direct coverage or subsidize the purchase of private insurance based upon the economic needs of each worker. In all cases, insurance benefits must include preventative, promotive and curative health services, and must be tailored to address the specific occupational health risks faced by workers in their respective work sectors.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph