Irenei-Kiria
In Summary
The constitution should guide the Government on
how it is to move as expeditiously and effectively as possible to the
full realisation of the Right to Health.
Our country has experienced continuous economic
growth during the past years. But despite increasing tax revenues, we do
not enjoy equal access to health facilities, essential goods and
services. The current constitutional review process provides us with a
historic opportunity to establish a universal Right to Health that
promotes the social well-being in of all Tanzanians.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO).
Therefore, the Right to Health cannot be confined
to health care. Individuals need to enjoy living conditions in which
they can lead a healthy life.
This requires promoting sufficient nutrition, safe
and potable water, basic shelter and sanitation, safe and health
working conditions, a healthy environment, access to education and
information, and the opportunity to participate in decisions that affect
people’s health.
Everyone should be entitled to health care and
adequate living conditions without distinction of race, colour, sex,
language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social
origin, property, birth, physical or mental disability, health status
(including HIV/Aids), and civil, political, social or other status,
which has the intention or effect of impairing the equal enjoyment of
the right to health.
The constitution should guide the Government on
how it is to move as expeditiously and effectively as possible to the
full realisation of the Right to Health.
One of the elements is to provide all constituents with a legal guarantee that the Right to Health will be exercised.
After the passing of health-related legislation,
the Government should also develop reasonable, well-targeted policies,
programmes and action plans that are tied to a specific time frame and
make the best use of the available resources.
All those measures should ensure that all
facilities, goods and services are available in sufficient quantity and
that they are physically and economically accessible, especially for
vulnerable and marginalised groups including mothers, children, the
elderly and persons with physical or mental disabilities.
The Government also needs to ensure that all
required facilities, goods and services are acceptable complying with
medical ethics, being sensitive to gender or age, and improving the
health status of the patients.
Good quality requires that health facilities
provide adequate equipment, sanitation, and skilled health workers who
dispense efficacious and unexpired medicines.
In cases of a medical emergency, any health facility should provide patients immediately with emergency medical treatment.
This would imply that private health facilities are obligated to provide any patient, including those who are not able to pay, with immediate emergency medical treatment. Only after successful stabilization, may the patient be transferred to another health facility.
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN
This would imply that private health facilities are obligated to provide any patient, including those who are not able to pay, with immediate emergency medical treatment. Only after successful stabilization, may the patient be transferred to another health facility.
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN
