PHM UK  People's Health Movement in the UK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right to Health and Healthcare in the UK

Why was the report written?

The PHM UK report was prepared to coincide with the Reporting cycle of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. We wanted to highlight factors limiting the right of people living in the United Kingdom to the right to the highest attainable standard of health.

What is the reporting cycle about?

Every country that has signed the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has an obligation to report to the Committee that monitors how countries comply with the article of the Covenant. Countries submit reports every five years or so.

NGOs and civil society organisations can submit 'shadow reports' or commentaries on the official government report. The Committee reads these as well as the government's official report to get a different perspective on some of the issues raised.

What are Economic, Social and Cultural Rights?

Economic, Social and Cultural rights are sometimes called 'Welfare Rights'; the right to health, to education, to housing and so on. This is in contrast to Civil and Political Rights, which include the right to protection from torture amongst others.

What does the committee look for when it scrutinises the performance of a country in terms of rights?

Governments sometimes claim that they are limited in their ability to fulfil the economic, social and cultural rights of their population because of economic constraints. The concept of 'progressive realisation' is a way of taking this into consideration. This means that countries should aim to improve from their starting point. For example, a poor country in the South might show its progress in realising the right to health by introducing an immunisation pogramme. A wealthy country may show its progess by improving immunisation coverage to marginalised groups. The Committee looks to see whether the government in question is progressively realising the rights under consideration.

How does the reporting cycle work?

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights considers the government's official report and invites government officials to present the report. It will also take into account the information provided in 'shadow reports' by NGOs. It then draws up a 'list of issues' for the goverment to respond to. The final step is for the Committee to make a list of 'Concluding Observations.' These are strong recommendations for the government to take action on. Performace on these recommendations will be reviewed in the next reporting cycle.

The UK goverment's report was submitted in 2008 for scrutiny by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in May 2009. Concluding Observations were issued in My 2009.

What topics did the PHM UK report raise?

The PHM UK shadow report, compiled with the contribution of many NGOs and individuals, looked at the realisation of the right to health and health care with respect to the following topics

  • Migrants and Asylum Seekers

  • Health care in immigration detention

  • Health and health care of Older People

  • Mental health and health care

  • Maternity

  • Privatisation of Health Care

  • Human rights education for health professional

What happened when the UK's report was scrutinised?

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Righs made several concluding observations that are relevant to the right to health. It made recommendations to the UK goverment on the following topics

  • Human Rights education for health professionals

  • Asylum Seekers and migrants access to essential services

  • Reducing health inequalities

  • Reducing discrimination in the health care system against Older People

  • Improving the health, and access to quality care for people with mental health problems

What happens next?

PHM UK sees the concluding observations as a great opportunity to campaign and advocate for improving the right of people in the UK to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health, and to hold the goverment to account. A meeting will be held to discuss how to take this work forward. If you would like to become involved in our campain, please email phmukcoordinator@yahoo.co.uk