The World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948, in the meeting of the First World Health Assembly, as one of its first official acts, has decided to celebrate 7th of April each year, as World Health Day, with the intention to draw World’s attention on the topic of a great importance, such is the global health.
Health insurance for all, access to indispensable, qualitative, suitable, effective health services and without any financial obstacles, comprises simultaneously the core to health and well-being of people and nations, which is this year’s global message.
This year the World Health Day finds our country in the course of struggles for improvement of the quality of health services. Despite the constitutional guarantee for healthcare insurance and the solid legal basis which guarantees this right, positive liability of the State for enforcement of this right remains a challenge. Continuation of non-enforcement of the Law on Health Insurance is an indicator of human rights violation on this field.
The Ombudsperson calls upon responsible authorities for drafting effective health policies and programs, which will be in compliance with the targets of 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development Goal, the aim of which is “Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages”, as well as universal health coverage.
On this symbolic day, the Ombudsperson as a state mechanism entrusted with the mandate to protect, supervise and promote human rights requires full implementation of the constitutional principles and all other legal provisions from all parties involved. On this occasion the Ombudsperson would like to draw attention of public institutions on the obligation to implement recommendations addressed through Ombudsperson’s Reports, particularly dealing in with health issues.
The Ombudsperson reiterates that the right to a healthy life is an essential and fundamental right of human rights. Improvement of the quality of health services and of social conditions as well as the environment, will serve to the development of the culture that will prevent occurrence of various diseases and will play an important role in the life quality and long life of its citizens.