A rights-based approach to health
A rights-based approach to health means integrating human rights norms and principles in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of health-related policies and programmes.
The main effect of a human rights approach to health is that it re-frames basic health needs as health rights. In other words, becoming healthy and remaining so is regarded not merely as a medical, technical or economic problem, but as a question of social justice and concrete government obligations. Furthermore, a human rights approach recognises that every human being is endowed with human rights.
From: The Right to Health, A Resource Manual for NGOs by Judith Asher
The main elements of a rights-based approach are:
- Attention to needs and rights of vulnerable groups
- Freedom of discrimination
- Participation
- Accountability
- Progressive realisation
A South African cardiologist, Wouter Basson, is facing charges of violating medical ethics for running the Apartheid government's chemical and biological warfare programme. He was interviewed recently after a Health Professions Council Disciplinary hearing, claiming that the hearing is politicallty motivated.
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