UNITED NATIONS, Oct 23: India remains committed to ensuring equitable access to affordable and quality healthcare for every citizen, Member of Parliament Arun Govil said during a United Nations dialogue on the right to health.
Speaking at an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health on Thursday, Govil highlighted India’s efforts to strengthen healthcare accessibility, affordability and accountability.
The discussion focused on the justiciability of the right to health and the role of legal mechanisms in ensuring justice and accountability.
“India has overhauled its healthcare system to ensure accessibility, affordability, and equity. We remain committed to ensure that every citizen has access to affordable and quality healthcare services,” Govil said.
He acknowledged concerns raised in the report regarding barriers such as financial constraints, language differences, geographical distance and limited legal awareness, which can prevent people from fully exercising their right to healthcare.
Govil also noted the report’s examination of corporate influence and the challenges involved in holding businesses accountable for practices affecting public health. He welcomed its emphasis on successful initiatives from different countries, saying these could help governments learn from one another.
Highlighting India’s constitutional framework, Govil said the report’s central theme reflected the country’s experience in expanding legal protections for healthcare. He pointed to the Supreme Court’s interpretation of Article 21, which guarantees the right to life, as an important foundation for recognising health-related entitlements.
He referred to a landmark 1995 judgment in which the Supreme Court recognised health and medical care as fundamental rights and issued directions concerning employee health insurance and safe working conditions, underlining that industrial development should not compromise workers’ well-being.
Another significant ruling established the importance of emergency medical treatment as a fundamental right, placing an obligation on authorities to strengthen healthcare facilities and ensure that people are not denied urgent medical assistance.
Govil also highlighted the Supreme Court’s 2024 recognition of protection against the adverse effects of climate change as a constitutional right, linking environmental concerns with the protection of human health and well-being.
Referring to more recent judicial developments, he said the court had directed the government to establish a clear framework for front-of-pack warning labels on packaged food products. The move reflects growing attention to the impact of commercial practices and consumer information on public health.
Govil expressed appreciation for the Special Rapporteur’s reference to an Indian Supreme Court ruling concerning access to reproductive healthcare.
The report discussed the court’s position that disclosure requirements under child protection laws should not obstruct adolescents who engage in consensual sexual activity from obtaining sexual and reproductive health services.
The intervention underscored India’s emphasis on using constitutional protections, judicial oversight and policy measures to improve healthcare access and address inequalities. It also highlighted the importance of ensuring that legal and institutional barriers do not prevent individuals from receiving essential medical services.