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Launch of right to health call for action

9 December 2005

Inequalities in global health present the world with one of its starkest ethical challenges. It is unacceptable that life expectancy in rich countries is approaching 80, while in the poorest it is under 40. Nor can we accept a world in which children living in the poorest countries are ten times more likely to die before they reach the age of five than their affluent western counterparts.

The BMA, in association with Essex University and the Ethical Globalization Initiative is launching this call to action to draw attention to this intolerable divide. Let us be clear: the right to health is not a ‘right to be healthy’, nor does it mean governments have to put in place costly health services beyond the reach of their budgets. But it does require governments to:

• Promote access to clean water, health care, adequate nutrition and sanitation without discrimination
• Invest in strong health systems
• Makes sure that health decisions are made accountable and with public participation
• Support low-income countries in their efforts to bring decent health to their people

Given the clear link between poverty and poor health, the BMA, in association with its partners, is working to ensure that the significance of health is reflected in global poverty reduction and development strategies.