BackA vacuous right again
Plans are afoot to make health a fundamental right. As with many other rights, this, too, will prove quixotic and largely unimplementable
Premium
Plans are afoot to make health a fundamental right. As with many other rights, this, too, will prove quixotic and largely unimplementable.
Three issues put a question mark over the move. One, where will India get the doctors needed to implement the right? India had less than one doctor for every 1,000 individuals in 2012.
Two, one cannot produce more doctors by merely setting up new medical colleges. Unlike in engineering education, the margin of error in medical education is low and only establishing more colleges won’t help.
Three, the notion of a right to health itself is problematic. In the case of diseases such as malaria and infectious diseases, one can pin the blame on someone for lack of care. What about diseases such as diabetes and coronary heart conditions, where individual responsibility for well-being is equal, if not greater, than the doctor’s responsibility? The notion of a right to health in such cases is dodgy.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
