The right to health is a basic human right. — Filepic
The World Health Organization (WHO)) is an agency of the United Nations (UN) that was established in 1948.
The objectives of WHO are to connect nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable, so that everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health.
Like all UN agencies, WHO has to act within the limits of its Constitution, which is determined by its member states and which does not provide it inspection, policing or enforcement powers against its member states.
In short, WHO has no legal authority to enforce action upon its member states.
However, WHO provides guidance and information to member states and health stakeholders. It also plays a vital role in the planning and coordination of measures in response to public health situations.
The WHO supreme decision-making body is the World Health Assembly (WHA).
The Executive Board gives effect to the decisions and policies of the WHA.
The administrative head of WHO is the Director General who is appointed by the WHA on the recommendation of the Executive Board.
Malaysia was elected a Vice President of the WHA in 2022.
WHO and Covid-19
There has been much criticism of WHO’s role in the management of the Covid-19 pandemic.
An independent panel established by WHO itself presented its report on May 12, 2021.
The panel stated that Covid-19 was a preventable disaster.
The “initial outbreak became a pandemic as a result of gaps and failings at every critical juncture of preparedness for, and response to, Covid-19.”
Despite the emergence of increasing zoonotic diseases and perennial warnings of a pandemic threat, no action was taken with inadequate funding and testing of preparedness.
Although doctors in Wuhan, China, diagnosed unusual pneumonias of unknown origin in late December 2019, its formal notification and emergency declaration under the International Health Regulations was slow.
This resulted in delays in the rapid and precautionary response required to counter a fast-moving, new respiratory pathogen, with valuable time lost.
After the WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on January 30, 2020, many countries took a “wait and see” approach for a month without implementing an aggressive containment strategy that could have forestalled the global pandemic.
As Covid-19 spread rapidly, neither national nor international systems managed to meet the initial and urgent demands for supplies.
Many countries had a lack of coordination, inconsistent or non-existent strategies, with devaluation of science in guiding decision-making.
Coordinated leadership was absent with multilateral institutions and cooperative action undermined by various tensions and politics.
The report concluded: “Covid-19 has been a terrible wake-up call. So now the world needs to wake up, and commit to clear targets, additional resources, new measures and strong leadership to prepare for the future.”
World Health Day
World Health Day is commemorated on April 7 annually, the date being that of WHO’s establishment in 1948 i.e. WHO is 75 years old this year.
The theme for 2023 is Health for All – it is vital to build on past foundations, learn from failures and plan actively for the future.
As Covid-19 spread rapidly, neither national nor international systems managed to meet the initial and urgent demands for supplies. — Bloomberg
The key WHO messages for the public this year are:
> “Health For All envisions that all people have good health for a fulfilling life in a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.
> The right to health is a basic human right.
Everyone must have access to the health services they need when and where they need them without financial hardship.
> Thirty percent of the global population is not able to access essential health services.
> Almost two billion people face catastrophic or impoverishing health spending, with significant inequalities affecting those in the most vulnerable settings.
> Universal health coverage (UHC) offers financial protection and access to quality essential services, lifts people out of poverty, promotes the well-being of families and communities, protects against public health crises, and moves us toward #HealthForAll.
> To make health for all a reality, we need: individuals and communities who have access to high quality health services so that they can take care of their own health and that of their families; skilled health workers providing quality, people-centred care; and policy-makers committed to investing in universal health coverage.
> Evidence shows that health systems powered by a primary health care (PHC) approach is the most effective and cost-effective way to bring services for health and well-being closer to people.
> Covid-19 set back every country’s journey to #HealthForAll.
> Covid-19 and other health emergencies, overlapping humanitarian and climate crises, economic constraints, and war, have made every country’s journey to #HealthForAll more urgent.
Now is the time for leaders to take action to meet their UHC commitments and for civil society to hold leaders accountable.
> Progress needs to be accelerated if health-related SDGs are to be met.”
The WHO exhorts everyone to “Demand your right to access the health services you need without falling into financial hardship!”
The WHO action points for governments are:
> “Shift from economies driven by profit and pollution to economies driven by fairness and well-being.
> Success must be measured by the well-being of people and healthy environments.
> Engage and empower individuals, families and communities for increased social participation and enhanced self-care in health.
Ensure informed and active participation, with people at the centre of health decisions and outcomes.
> Strengthen integrated national health systems using a PHC approach to deliver essential quality services with financial protection, with equity-oriented, gender-sensitive and rights-based programming to reach and engage those in greatest need and improve the health and well-being of all people at all ages.
> Enable non-state actors to participate in government-led planning, progress reviews or implementation towards UHC.”
It behoves Malaysia, as a Vice President of the WHA, to set an example for other member states of WHO.
Dr Milton Lum is a past president of the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations and the Malaysian Medical Association. For more information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The views expressed do not represent that of organisations that the writer is associated with. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
