Health as a Human Right

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Before all this readings and discussions about health as a human right, I never put too much thought into it. I guess when we are “physically healthy” we tend to believe that everybody else is. The human right to health means that everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, which includes access to medical services, sanitation, adequate food, decent housing, healthy working conditions, and a clean environment.The human right to health should guarantee a system of health protection for all. Everyone has the right to the health care they need, and to living conditions that enable us to be healthy, such as adequate food, affordable housing, and a healthy environment, communities, neighborhoods, etc. Health care must be provided as a public good for all, and most be distributed equitably. The human right to health should also include access to health care, hospitals, clinics, medicines. Doctors’ services must be accessible, available, acceptable, and of good quality for everyone. Health care must be affordable and comprehensive for everyone, and physically accessible where and when needed. Hospitals, community health facilities, health care professionals and services must be available in all communities. Health care institutions and providers must operate with high ethic standards, dignity, and provide culturally competent care. My thinking about health as a human right started evolving since the minute I started reading the Human Right Preamble. Article 25. Sates that (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his
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