State of healthcare appalling in the country: NHRC

New Delhi, Mar 4 (UNI) National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairperson Justice A S Anand today said the state of healthcare in the country was appalling and the public and private sector need to forge a partnership to make it accessible to the common man.

''The Commission acknowledges various constraints of the Government in providing healthcare to all but constraints cannot be accepted by citizens for far too long as excuse for the denial of their right,'' Justice Anand said in his address at the Review Meeting of the Recommendations of NHRC Core Group on Health and Public Hearing.

He said the state cannot avoid its constitutional obligation with regard to providing healthcare on account of financial constraints.

The country faces three basic challenges-- accessibility, availability and affordability -- in the healthcare sector, he added.

Emphasising that health was not merely absence of disease, Justice Anand said the facilities needed to be upgraded.

''Let the civil society feel that issues of public health requires their public support and come forward to do the needful,'' he added.

He said measures must be taken to ensure that the people of the country, particularly those belonging to economically disadvantaged sections, have access to better and more comprehensive health facilities.

The Commission has focused on the issue of 'Right to Health' especially on issues related to silicosis, organ transplant, blood transfusion, HIV/AIDS related issue and Emergency Medical Care.

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