Is access to essential medicines as part of the fulfilment of the right to health enforceable through the courts?
Is access to essential medicines as part of the fulfilment of the right to health enforceable through the courts?
复制标题
DOI：
10.1016/s0140-6736(06)69076-4
复制
发表时间：
2006-07-22
期刊：
影响因子：
168.9
通讯作者：
Rahmani-Ocora, Ladan
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Hogerzeil, Hans V.;Samson, Melanie;Rahmani-Ocora, Ladan
背景世界上大多数国家已成为一项或多项国际人权条约的缔约国，因此国家对其人民负有实现健康权的义务，其中包括获得基本药物。但是，这种访问是否是可执行的，在practice.Methods我们做了系统的搜索，以确定在低收入和中等收入国家的个人或团体声称获得基本药物的参考一般健康权，或政府批准的具体人权条约完成的法院案件。我们确定和分析了71个法庭案件从12个国家，其中获得基本药物被要求与参考health.Findings在59个案件中，获得基本药物作为实现健康权的一部分，确实可以通过法院强制执行，与大多数来自中美洲和拉丁美洲。成功主要与人权条约支持的关于健康权的宪法规定有关。其他成功因素是将健康权与生命权联系起来，以及公益性非政府组织的支持。个别案件在整个人口群体中产生了应享权利，健康权不受社会保障覆盖范围的限制，政府政策在法庭上成功地受到质疑。解释熟练的诉讼有助于确保政府履行其宪法和国际条约义务。这种保证在社会保障制度尚处于发展阶段的国家特别宝贵。然而，通过法院的补救机制应作为最后手段。相反，决策者应确保从一开始就以人权标准指导其卫生政策和方案。
Background Most countries in the world have become States parties to one or more international human rights treaties, thus creating an obligation by the State to its people towards the realisation of the right to health, which includes access to essential medicines. But whether such access is enforceable in practice is unknown.Methods We did a systematic search to identify completed court cases in low-income and middle-income countries in which individuals or groups had claimed access to essential medicines with reference to the right to health in general, or to specific human rights treaties ratified by the government. We identified and analysed 71 court cases from 12 countries in which access to essential medicines was claimed with reference to the right to health.Findings In 59 cases, access to essential medicines as part of the fulfilment of the right to health could indeed be enforced through the courts, with most coming from Central and Latin America. Success was mainly linked to constitutional provisions on the right to health, supported by the human rights treaties. Other success factors were a link between the right to health and the right to life, and support by public-interest non-government organisations. individual cases have generated entitlements across a population group, the right to health was not restricted by limitations in social security coverage, and government policies have successfully been challenged in court.Interpretation Skilful litigation can help to ensure that governments fulfil their constitutional and international treaty obligations. Such assurances are especially valuable in countries in which social security systems are still being developed. However, redress mechanisms through the courts should be used as a last resort. Rather, policymakers should ensure that human rights standards guide their health policies and programmes from the outset.