This World Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded a critical alarm: millions around the globe are facing increasing threats to their fundamental right to health.
Despite health being enshrined as a fundamental human right in the constitutions of over 140 countries, the recent findings from the WHO Council on the Economics of Health For All reveal a stark reality. In 2021 alone, essential health services were not fully accessible to more than 4.5 billion people, which accounts for over half of the world’s population.
These alarming statistics indicate that many nations are falling short in enacting and implementing the necessary laws to ensure their populations have access to vital health services. The WHO emphasizes that without decisive action, the gap in health equity will only widen, leaving billions without the care they need.
The organization calls on governments, policymakers, and global leaders to prioritize health equity, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their location or economic status, can access essential health services. Achieving this is not just a matter of policy, but a moral imperative to uphold the universal right to health.
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WHO calls for ensuring equitable access to essential health services
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