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The Right to Health: A multi-country study of law, policy and practice

On the 24th August 2013, Professor Salman Rawaf – WHO Collaborating Centre Director - and Dr Sondus Hassounah – WHO CC Research Assistant, presented the finding of their latest research on the Right to Health in the Arab World at the Irish Centre for Human Rights in Galway, Ireland. The Conference was a intended to show case the work of all those participating in the global study; The Right to Health: a multi-country study of law, policy and practice, which offers an in-depth assessment and comprehensive analysis of the ‘Right to Health’ in the Middle East and North Africa, with particular emphasis on the role of Health systems in providing Universal Coverage for Health (UHC) and Health Care.

This study focuses on the implementation of the right to health at a regional and national level. The project brings together a set of experts from different parts in the world, which each analyse the implementation of the right to health in their country or region, thereby focusing on a particular theme that is relevant for their country or region.

Their work maps out the current status of citizens’ health rights, from the State’s perspective, through
empirical analysis of the constitutional enactments of the 23 countries of the Arab world, which address health and health care. The research further examines other indices of national commitment to health and health care; such as the approach to identification of health as a right, the universality of each health system and the existing gaps (if any) between constitutions and service provision; merging the human rights framework for Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability and Quality with Public Health and Health system performance indicators.

The final product is geared towards the production of an international publication on the right of health; balancing between UHC and Human Rights obligations for all citizens. 

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