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Global Issues Series
The Human Right to Health
“A broad-ranging, insightful analysis of the complex practical and ethical issues involved in global health.”—Kirkus Reviews
Few topics in human rights have inspired as much debate as the right to health. Proponents would enshrine it as a fundamental right on a par with freedom of speech and freedom from torture. Detractors suggest that the movement constitutes an impractical over-reach. Jonathan Wolff cuts through the ideological stalemate to explore both views. In an accessible, persuasive voice, he explores the philosophical underpinnings of the idea of a human right, assesses whether health meets those criteria, and identifies the political and cultural realities we face in attempts to improve the health of citizens in wildly different regions. Wolff ultimately finds that there is a path forward for proponents of the right to health, but to succeed they must embrace certain intellectual and practical changes. The Human Right to Health is a powerful and important contribution to the discourse on global health.
Few topics in human rights have inspired as much debate as the right to health. Proponents would enshrine it as a fundamental right on a par with freedom of speech and freedom from torture. Detractors suggest that the movement constitutes an impractical over-reach. Jonathan Wolff cuts through the ideological stalemate to explore both views. In an accessible, persuasive voice, he explores the philosophical underpinnings of the idea of a human right, assesses whether health meets those criteria, and identifies the political and cultural realities we face in attempts to improve the health of citizens in wildly different regions. Wolff ultimately finds that there is a path forward for proponents of the right to health, but to succeed they must embrace certain intellectual and practical changes. The Human Right to Health is a powerful and important contribution to the discourse on global health.
209 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2012
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265 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Wolff
39 books62 followersJonathan Wolff is a Professor specialising in political philosophy at University College London, in England. Wolff earned his MPhil from UCL under the direction of G.A. Cohen. He is the secretary of the British Philosophical Association and honorary secretary of the Aristotelian Society, which publishes Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society. Recently, Wolff's work has specialized in disadvantage and equality and public policy decision making.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 4, 2017
An interesting, rigorous little book examining whether there is a fundamental “right to health” and what this means- as well as discussing the consequences, both positive and negative, of viewing health through the lens of a human rights framework.
And yes, there are surprisingly enough, some negative results of viewing health this way. For example, advocacy efforts stemming from a belief that health should be characterized as a human right have led to disease-specific efforts, like focusing on malaria or AIDS, in a developing area. This kind of vertical framework can mean there’s absolutely insufficient care for other health issues (like infant mortality, or all the other diseases that people suffer from besides that one disease)- because all the medical professionals in that area will be drawn to work on that particular disease, since that’s where the money is coming from, leaving no one to serve the public on other diseases. It would probably be better to work on a horizontal revamping of a certain region’s health care system, but that’s not how human rights advocacy work tends to function.
Specifically, the book centers in on the AIDS epidemic as a particular case of health and human rights intersecting. It goes in and discusses initial responses to AIDS and the fact that many were framed in a human rights perspective, even though at the time there wasn’t really a movement to identify health as a human right. It also notes the role of the infamous World Bank in the treatment of AIDS in African countries: it tied aid and loans up in “structural adjustment,” basically trying to privatize more and limit the state’s budgets accordingly, which of course became a disaster for the AIDS epidemic.
Finally, the book takes a look at how TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights), a multi-national treaty from 1994 in which countries agreed to recognize patents/copyrights granted from other countries, impacted individuals’ health by making it impossible for developing countries to provide life-saving medications to their citizens due to prohibitive costs for the non-generic meds.
And yes, there are surprisingly enough, some negative results of viewing health this way. For example, advocacy efforts stemming from a belief that health should be characterized as a human right have led to disease-specific efforts, like focusing on malaria or AIDS, in a developing area. This kind of vertical framework can mean there’s absolutely insufficient care for other health issues (like infant mortality, or all the other diseases that people suffer from besides that one disease)- because all the medical professionals in that area will be drawn to work on that particular disease, since that’s where the money is coming from, leaving no one to serve the public on other diseases. It would probably be better to work on a horizontal revamping of a certain region’s health care system, but that’s not how human rights advocacy work tends to function.
Specifically, the book centers in on the AIDS epidemic as a particular case of health and human rights intersecting. It goes in and discusses initial responses to AIDS and the fact that many were framed in a human rights perspective, even though at the time there wasn’t really a movement to identify health as a human right. It also notes the role of the infamous World Bank in the treatment of AIDS in African countries: it tied aid and loans up in “structural adjustment,” basically trying to privatize more and limit the state’s budgets accordingly, which of course became a disaster for the AIDS epidemic.
Finally, the book takes a look at how TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights), a multi-national treaty from 1994 in which countries agreed to recognize patents/copyrights granted from other countries, impacted individuals’ health by making it impossible for developing countries to provide life-saving medications to their citizens due to prohibitive costs for the non-generic meds.
October 20, 2012
Who would disagree with the fundamental right to human health? Jonathan frames the legal landscape today for establishing a human right to health, then cogently explains why this is ultimately a positive step forward. Ensuring the right to health to all may appear insurmountable, but it is an important work in progress.
In 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights took the first bold step in acknowledging the right to medical care as a determinant of health and well-being. This was followed in 1976 with Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights that recognized the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. However the declaration and covenant primarily reflect Western European and American values and can be subject to different cultural interpretations. In 2000 the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights issued General Comment 14 that requires states to take deliberate steps towards the full realization of the right to health under the obligation to respect and protect citizens. Although an international legal framework for the right to health exists today at the state level, it does not extend to transnational companies and its application is still subjective, not universally accepted and difficult to enforce.
Jonathan then highlights other challenges associated with the right to health. The World Trade Organization requires all members to adhere to TRIPS - Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights that provides for a 20 year patent protection of all new medicines, limiting the reach of essential medicines. The World Health Organization in 2006 forecast a world shortfall of 2.4 million doctors, nurses and midwives, and 4.3 million health workers in total, with western economies draining the limited health human resources of developing countries. This resource shortage is exacerbated in developing countries by well-funded vertical health programs that undermine overall health care systems by attracting scarce health care workers away from important work. Research funding for health is primarily focused on the diseases of the rich rather than those afflicting the low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, there is a lack of disaggregated health data to enable an understanding of the nature and change in health standards around the world.
In 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights took the first bold step in acknowledging the right to medical care as a determinant of health and well-being. This was followed in 1976 with Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights that recognized the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. However the declaration and covenant primarily reflect Western European and American values and can be subject to different cultural interpretations. In 2000 the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights issued General Comment 14 that requires states to take deliberate steps towards the full realization of the right to health under the obligation to respect and protect citizens. Although an international legal framework for the right to health exists today at the state level, it does not extend to transnational companies and its application is still subjective, not universally accepted and difficult to enforce.
Jonathan then highlights other challenges associated with the right to health. The World Trade Organization requires all members to adhere to TRIPS - Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights that provides for a 20 year patent protection of all new medicines, limiting the reach of essential medicines. The World Health Organization in 2006 forecast a world shortfall of 2.4 million doctors, nurses and midwives, and 4.3 million health workers in total, with western economies draining the limited health human resources of developing countries. This resource shortage is exacerbated in developing countries by well-funded vertical health programs that undermine overall health care systems by attracting scarce health care workers away from important work. Research funding for health is primarily focused on the diseases of the rich rather than those afflicting the low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, there is a lack of disaggregated health data to enable an understanding of the nature and change in health standards around the world.
December 22, 2020
Concise, well-organized, balanced, and comprehensive account of the philosophical, political, ethical, and logistical aspects of the human right to health. Well-selected case studies and broad source material. Highly recommend to anyone who is interested in global health, public health, and healthcare ethics.
September 22, 2022
was excited to read this from the summary and particularly chapter 3, the case study on HIV/AIDs, but the material did not seem to really go anywhere and no clear solution emerged, making it frustrating to read. there was some attempt to analyze the financial and health struggles of developing countries due to lingering effects of colonialism but Wolff never ties this back into the supposed effectiveness/integrity of the western health organizations we look to for guidance.
January 4, 2022
Intellectually stimulating, difficult to read if you have no prior philosophy background. I read it as part of a class which helped with my understanding of the text because we discussed it extensively as a group. I appreciated how Wolff provided arguments from two different perspectives versus pushing a narrow minded view.
September 3, 2014
A quick read, easily digestible and what is probably an introduction to the idea of the human right to health. Interesting moments re: (some) rationalisation of patents/pricing for medicines by Big Pharma, history of HIV/AIDs and early responses, and health issues that cannot be "solved" by funding (ex. maternal and infant mortality). Well referenced with an accessible bibliography. Well worth the time if you're interested in health, medicine, and international law.
February 2, 2016
More of an historical than ethical analysis but the excellent critique of World Bank and IMF policies (last chapters) makes up for it. Since around 1970 their policies have lead to short-term pain which were argued to cause benefits in the long run. We have measured for several years that the result is long-term losses instead of benefits. How long will we keep repeating ourselves while expecting different outcomes? And why?
September 29, 2013
Amnesty International's arguement for health care as a right just as much as civil rights and universal education. Well written in everyday language, and thought provoking. Seems like a utopian vision and grand vision for mankind.
February 28, 2013
Good academic insights into solutions to worldwide health disparities.
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August 30, 2013362.1 W8558 2013
October 16, 2024
Had to read for a class. Lots of good information, but that made it a tad boring.
May 2, 2012
Only complaint is that it didn't really offer new perspectives.
June 13, 2012
Actually a really good, quick read. Well referenced, moderately balanced with an obvious slant.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews