The Monterrey Declaration on the Fundamental Right to Health
(adopted 5th March 2008)
We, the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), are an internationally diverse group of future health professionals concerned with global health issues. We believe that health is a universally recognised, fundamental human right that transcends the boundaries of state, culture, religion, political affiliation, as well as economic and social condition. We protest that this right to access adequate healthcare has not been guaranteed and delivered to all. We make this declaration in the IFMSA spirit of solidarity.
We believe, as stated in the WHO constitution, that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.
Health is a vital and indispensable component of a strong and sustainable community and nation, as well as the overall well-being of both families and individuals. Access to the highest standard of health care has been shown to increase health outcomes for individuals and populations. We recognize there are obstacles, be they political, social or financial, which may limit individuals’ and peoples’ access to high quality health services. Nonetheless, societies must undertake a collective and multifaceted approach to preventing disease, promoting health and ensuring quality of life for all.
We uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Similarly, we endorse the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as a necessary instrument in advocating for the rights of persons to the decent standard of living necessary for good health. This includes rights to food, housing, safe and healthy working conditions and education.
We recognise that there exist vulnerable groups in both developed and developing societies alike. Such groups include indigenous peoples, refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, undocumented migrants, individuals with disabilities, women and children, the elderly, minorities and the socially marginalised. Even in wealthy nations, access to essential health services for these groups may be inadequate.
We support the Alma Ata declaration in its commitment to the progressive improvement of comprehensive health care for all, giving priority to those most in need. This may be achieved largely through upholding the role of primary care as an integral component both of a nation’s health system, and of the overall social and economic development of the community.
Recommendations
We particularly highlight the right and duty of people to participate in implementing their healthcare on an individual and collective level.
Based on the above, we encourage the following:
Individuals and community groups
- The responsibility of the individual in taking active control to maximise their personal health and promote healthy living to others;
- The awareness of individuals of their universal right to health, their ability to enact that right, and their personal advocacy of this right unto the wider community;
- The role of parents and guardians in protecting the health of their children and in the promotion of a healthy lifestyle;
- Through community groups, promoting health and advocating for access to healthcare in a non-discriminatory and inclusive manner, appropriate to the social, economic and cultural needs of the community;
- Medical schools and medical associations should incorporate human rights’ awareness and education as an integral component of their curricula and regular activities, ensuring that future doctors and health professionals receive the knowledge necessary to cultivate a respect for the right to health;
- Equal access to appropriate and specific healthcare services with due consideration and respect to gender, religion, ethnicity, economic condition, cultural and political beliefs.
National governments
- That governments acknowledge their obligations to recognize health as a fundamental human right and to take all necessary steps to assure its fulfilment, addressing social and economic practices that lead to ill health;
- That governments prioritise non-discriminatory access to health services for all persons residing within their borders, with particular emphasis on vulnerable groups as identified above;
- That governments should be held accountable by civil society, both at an individual and collective level, in recognition of the vital importance that good health and adequate healthcare plays in a vibrant society;
- That collaboration is promoted between all areas of the health provision sector and other public services in achieving maximum outcomes within the social determinants of health (for example, hygiene and sanitation, housing, education, employment, etc);
- That obligations and responsibilities should apply equally to governments of both developed and developing nations; however wealthy nations should recognise their greater capacity to assist poorer nations in ensuring the affordability, accessibility and availability of quality health care provision to those most in need.
Transnational organisations and international institutions
- That global organisations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation ensure their policies promote and especially do not hinder the realisation of the ideals and recommendations as identified above;
- That the World Health Organisation be provided with the necessary resources and availability of quality health care provision to those most in need.