ACCESSING health care services should not be a luxury but a human right. The right to health goes beyond infrastructure and the workforce that takes up the health sector. While it is not the state’s responsibility to ensure that we are in good health, it is their responsibility to provide the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. The right to health is recognised as a human right by many international bodies and in international law.

Access to health care without discrimination is a human right recognised by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The World Health Organization is also an international body that recognises it as a human right. Healthcare should not be treated as an ideological or even economic issue. It should be considered and discussed as a human right in every aspect of decision-making and policy planning.

Within the scope of that right, it includes four elements: availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality. The availability of health care involves the quality of the services provided to people. There needs to be sufficient resources available for everyone. To ensure that health care services are accessible to everyone, a country must ensure that said services are accessible to everyone. This can be measured by being able to physically access the services, afford the services, access non-discriminatory services, and have access to information.

For healthcare services to promote acceptability, services must be catered for a diverse population, not just a specific group. Personally, I think the most important element is the quality of health care available. The quality of the health care services ensures that these services are safe, effective, timely, people-centred, equitable, integrated and efficient—according to the World Health Organization.

I hope as we discuss healthcare at all levels, we consider its importance and value to the wellness of our country. I hope inclusive, affordable, sustainable and efficient healthcare services are provided for all Guyanese in the foreseeable future. Every citizen deserves access to high-quality healthcare, from the busy coastlands to the highland villages and riverine areas. I hope that this is never forgotten. Guyana is also fortunate to have the majority of its medical services available free to all citizens. Unfortunately, many citizens from other countries cannot relate to this. I hope that we continue down this path. I want to live to see a Guyana where our healthcare services are used as models to inspire other policymakers across the globe. Healthcare for all should not be a business deal, nor should it be up for debate. It should always be a right to us all.