Transcript European Public Health Alliance

A definition of health
A state of complete physical,
mental and social well-being
and not merely the absence
of disease or infirmity
World Health Organisation
EPHA EGM 2/12/2002
The right to health
The States Parties to the present
Covenant recognise the right of
everyone to the enjoyment of the
highest attainable standard of
physical and mental health.
International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights, Article 12
EPHA EGM 2/12/2002
Interpretation of the right to health



An inclusive right extending not only to timely and
appropriate health care but also to the underlying
determinants of health (safe water, housing, food,
environment, living/working conditions, information)
The right to health is not to be understood as a right to be
healthy. The right to health contains both freedoms (to
control body, sexual/reproductive rights, from torture and
medical experimentation) and entitlements (system of
health protection)
Participation of the population in all health related decisionmaking at all levels.
General Comment by the Committee on Social and Economic Rights, May 2000
EPHA EGM 2/12/2002
Evaluation criteria for health rights




Availability : functioning public health and
healthcare facilities, sufficient quantity
Accessibility : no exceptions; physical,
economic, information, non discrimination
Acceptability : culturally appropriate and
medically ethical, improve health
Quality : medically and scientifically
appropriate and of good quality
EPHA EGM 2/12/2002
What does the EU treaty state?
Article 152 of the Amsterdam Treaty states:


“a high level of health protection shall be
ensured in the definition and
implementation of all Community policies
and activities”
But the EU must respect Member State
responsibilities for organisation and
delivery of health care
EPHA EGM 2/12/2002
What EU rights to health exist?
“Everyone has the right of access to
preventative healthcare and the right
to benefit from medical treatment
under the conditions established by
national law and practices”
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU,
Adopted in Nice, 12/2000
EPHA EGM 2/12/2002
European Governance issues





Citizens put health in the top 5 priority areas
they want addressed by the EU.
Health to be fully integrated in all EU policies
Very limited resources allocated to public
health at EU level
Citizens are stakeholders not just consumers
of healthcare
Consultation and participation in health
decision-making.
EPHA EGM 2/12/2002
The role of NGOs





Advocacy of health rights for all
Representation of citizen and public
interest
Awareness raising on health and human
rights issues
Monitoring of implementation of health
rights
Challenging violations of health rights
EPHA EGM 2/12/2002
Goals for EPHA



A rights based approach into health policy
making
Campaign to strengthen the EU
competence on public health in Convention
and new EU Treaty
EU health policy to be based around
delivering the highest attainable standards
in health rather than the lowest common
denominator
EPHA EGM 2/12/2002