In the UK, health inequalities continue to widen, and health injustice is pervasive. 

This situation is unacceptable and must be addressed.

This Human Rights Day we are publishing a new report on the right to health in the UK, which argues that it is time to put the rights at the centre of positive change. 

The right to health

Achieving the right to health is about creating a world where everyone can access quality healthcare throughout their life, regardless of where they live, how much they earn, their gender, age, ethnicity, or any other personal characteristic.

The right to health is also about people enjoying universal access to a range of factors that improve physical and mental health, like adequate housing, sufficient and nutritious food, green spaces, fair working conditions, healthy relationships, and a healthy environment.

The problem

The right to health is being eroded across the UK.

Health inequalities are growing, and health injustice is pervasive. 

The reasons are stark, and include the following:

• The UK Government has not been sufficiently resourcing the provision of quality healthcare that meets the needs of all.
• The availability, accessibility and quality of publicly provided healthcare are deteriorating.
• Privatisation and commercialisation are having negative effects on the provision of quality health and social care that meets the needs of all.
• Increasing racism, poverty, exposure to poor housing conditions, and the effects of migration status and climate change are negatively impacting certain groups and communities’ access to both healthcare and healthy living environments.

While these factors can potentially impact everyone, they are affecting some marginalised groups more than others, further compounding differences in health outcomes.

This situation is unacceptable.

The solution

To start to address these issues, the report argues that we must embed the right to health at the core of UK law and policy – specifically:

• economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to health fully incorporated into UK domestic law and effectively implemented.
• full commencement and effective implementation of Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010 – the socio-economic duty.

It is time for everyone in the UK to enjoy quality healthcare, access to adequate living and working conditions, and a healthy environment, not as a privilege but as a right.

This Human Rights Day let’s all commit to action, and champion our everyday rights, including the right to health, to create a healthier, fairer and more just society.