The Next Step Is A Constitutional Right To Health

Context: Key lesson from coronavirus pandemic is the need to shift to constitutional ‘Right to Health for all”.

Issues in Indian healthcare system

• Breakdown amidst pandemic: Pandemic exposed and aggravated the cracks in healthcare systems.
  • Inadequate safety net: Without an anchor during times of severe illness or disease, generations of children of small and landless farmers, and unorganised, migrant and seasonal workers are thrown into bondage and debt by having to pay for medical costs from their limited earnings.
• Gender perspective – Disproportionate burden on women: As the taboos and patriarchal expectations surrounding women’s health led to immense avoidable suffering.
  • Social and economic challenges prevent them from freely and openly accessing the little care that is available.
• Inadequate safety net for childhood care and protection to vulnerable children: A large number of children who belong to the poorest and most marginalised communities grow up working in hazardous situations be it fields, mines, brick kilns or factories.
  • They are either not enrolled in schools or are not able to attend it due to pressing financial needs of the family — often because of unexpected out-of-pocket medical expenses.
• Governance gap: Any investment in health care fails to translate into a sense of security and sanctuary for the people of India.
  • Complex and corrupt means of accessing existing health care further adds to the suffering.
  • Employment benefit schemes do not reach them, and the ones that do are mostly on paper.

Way forward: A constitutional amendment to introduce the ‘Right to Health for India’

• A ‘right to health’ means: Through the eyes of citizens
  • For Farmers & Unorganized Workers: Providing simple, transparent, and quality health care.
  • For Women: Ensuring that healthcare services reach the woman where and when she needs them.
  • For Children: Putting the safety net of early childhood care and protection and help transition the children in exploitative conditions into a safer future.
• A leap for economic and developmental progress of nation:
  • Immediate financial security that will come with the constitutional ‘Right to Health’ will be seen as a measurable impact on family savings, greater investment, and jobs creation and,
  • In the long-term emotional, psychological and social security of people.