RIGHT TO HEALTH IN INDIA – A SPECIAL REFERENCE TO RAJASTHAN’S RIGHT TO HEALTHCARE ACT 2022

Abstract

           “Health is wealth” this is not a slogan but a fact. Without being healthy, an individual cannot survive in this world. Health considered as the biggest wealth of a human being. According to Lord Buddha, out of all gains, the gain of health is the highest and the best^[1]. Generally physical well-being of a human considers as identical to the Health but according to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity^[2]. The above definition given by WHO shows that health is an integral part of what an individual need to realize their full potential and derive satisfaction from life. Therefore we can say that health is not an end but it is a mean towards achieving goals of human development. Health forms an important aspect of human development. Being human, health is a matter of daily concern for us. Health is the basic requirement for an individual but in recent times India is facing Health Degradation. It is the duty of a welfare state to protect its citizens from health degradation and provide effective health infrastructure and policies. A healthy citizen can only contribute in nation’s growth. That’s why Health is considered as one of the basic human right recognised by various international conventions also. International covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights refers this right as ‘enjoyment of highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights also mentions health as a part of right to an adequate standard of life.