The right to health: more than rhetoric (2)
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[Re: The Lancet 2007; 369:438 - Editorial]
I cannot agree with the statement that the two main obstacles to
realization of the Right to Health are failures on the part of
NGOs and health professionals. These elements are entirely
downstream and in some ways, peripheral to the central
obstacles.
This analysis appears to ignore the entire political economy of
health. There are far larger obstacles relating to the
international economic and political order, responsible for
poverty and inequality, first causes of violations of the right
to health.
I urge readers who feel that this analysis is a little short,
please try and respond both to the editorial and to Paul Hunt. I
do fear that this sort of approach to the right to health is
responsible for it remaining rhetoric.
If P. Hunt's analysis has been misinterpreted in the Lancet
editorial, I do apologise to him.
Note: I agree with Alison.
Claudio Schuftan
mailto:claudio@hcmc.netnam.vn