The right to participate: An under-utilised component of the right to the highest attainable standard health

More recently, the WHO and other global health institutions recognised the importance of involving patients in co-creating public health policies. However, these institutions tend to frame participation in phrases like “people-centred approach,” “meaningful engagement” and “meaningful stakeholder participation”. Patients are regarded as “participants” and “beneficiaries” of health systems designed for them. A rights-based approach is sorely needed as people grapple with the global covid-19 epidemic. In-country and global health disparities are widening and there are growing concerns about issues such as vaccine nationalism which threatens to delay access to essential treatments for millions of patients and health users in developing countries. The author emphasizes that patients must understand that “rights speak” creates legal entitlements and obligations (accountability mechanisms). “Meaningful engagement”, “people at the centre”, “inclusion” and “meaningful stakeholder participation” do not have the legal force and certainty of a human right based approach which is vital to address growing global and national health disparities.

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Asante, K., The right to participate: An under-utilised component of the right to the highest attainable standard health. BMJ 2021;372.