‘Right to Health’ initiative in Rajasthan
The Chief Minister of Rajasthan announced universal health coverage, with an allocation of Rs 3,500 crore in the coming financial year, which along with measures to strengthen the basic health infrastructure in the state, to ensure that healthcare is more accessible to its citizens.
The Chief Minister also announced that the Rajasthan Model of Public Health will be implemented, which will include the right to health as well as preventive, primary and curative care measures implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Key Points:
‘Rajasthan Model of Public Health’ (RMPH):
- The “Rajasthan Model of Public Health” was announced during the Rajasthan budget of 2021-22. Under this model, the state government will also introduce a “Right to Health Bill” with emphasis on the rights of patients. The state will take preventive care measures, primary care measures and remedial care measures under this model.
- These measures will be taken as per the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). Under this universal health coverage plan, each family will be given a health cover of Rs 5 lakh. It will also cover the beneficiary of ‘Ayushman Bharat – Mahatma Gandhi Rajasthan Health Insurance Scheme (AB-MGRSBY)’.
- Also, the Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) recommends setting standards in accordance with the resources available in the state for the rights of patients as well as for matching with service providers.
Indian Public Health Standards:
- IPHS is a set of similar standards envisaged to improve the quality of health care delivery in the country.
- The IPHS documents have been revised keeping in mind the changing protocols of the existing programs and in particular the introduction of new programs for non-communicable diseases.
- Its flexibility is tailored to the diverse needs of states and territories.
- The IPHS Guidelines serve as the main driver for continuous improvement in quality and as a benchmark for assessing the functional status of healthcare facilities.
- States and union territories adopted these IPHS guidelines to strengthen public health care institutions.
Right to health:
The right to health includes both freedom and right:
- Freedom includes controlling one’s health and body (sexual and reproductive rights) and being free from interference (free from torture and non-consensual medical treatment and use).
- Rights include the right to a system of health protection that gives everyone an equal opportunity to use the highest attainable level of health.
Provisions relating to the right to health in India:
- Fundamental Rights: Article 21 of the Constitution of India guarantees the fundamental right to life and personal liberty. The right to health lies in life with dignity.
- Directive Principles of State Policy: Articles 38, 39, 42, 43, and 47 impose a duty on the state to ensure effective right to health.
- International Convention: India is a signatory to Article-25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) by the United Nations, which provides adequate living standards for health and well-being to humans, including food, clothing, housing, medical care and necessary social service.
- The concept of democratic socialism aims to improve the health care conditions of the people. The principle of socialism is also included in the various provisions of Part III and Part IV of the Constitution.
- Due to no clear recognition of the right to health or healthcare under the Constitution, the Supreme Court of India, in the case “Bandhu Mukti Morcha Vs Union of India and Others“, under Article 21 explained the right to health, which guarantees the right to life.
- In Punjab & Others vs. Mohinder Singh Chawla, the apex court reaffirmed that the right to health is fundamental to the right to life and it should be recorded that the government has a constitutional obligation to provide health services.In the “Punjab and Others vs. Ram Lubhaya Bagga” case, the court upheld the responsibility of the state to maintain health services.
Source – The Hindu
