The UN special rapporteur* about the right to health urged Chile to align its Constitution with international human rights standards “to fully guarantee the right to health for all.”
Tlaleng Mofokeng, who concluded an official visit to the South American country this Wednesday, acknowledged that The government is willing to address health challenges in terms of mental health and sexual and reproductive health, as well as disparities in the public-private health system.
“Although the Chilean Constitution refers to the right to choose the health system, it does not guarantee the right to health in itself declared the expert, adding that Chile must give priority to health financing and guarantee equitable allocation of resources.
Health is a business
In this sense, he explained that during his visit he repeatedly heard the “worrying” idea that In Chile, health is not a right, but a business.
“Powerful groups representing vested interests in the for-profit health sector tend to operate without the necessary human rights safeguards in Chile, leading to a mismanagement of the principles of medical ethics and the health economy,” he said.
Mofokeng added that it is essential that States provide independent oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability.
Equal access to services
The special rapporteur stressed that the Chilean government has the obligation to guarantee equal access to health services provided by third partiesand alluded to the long waiting times in health services with millions of people waiting for diagnoses, studies and treatments.
He reported that doctors, nurses and other health professionals reported unsustainable workloads and stress levelsaggravated by users’ frustration with these delays.
abortion law
When referring to sexual and reproductive health, Mofokeng urged the Chilean Congress to modify its restrictive abortion lawwhich only allows the voluntary interruption of pregnancy in three cases: risk to the mother’s life, non-viability of the fetus or pregnancy due to rape.
Furthermore, the law allows conscientious objection by individual health professionals and even allows entire hospitals and health centers to declare themselves “conscientious objector status,” making abortion services inaccessible at those centers.
On the other hand, the expert praised the recent advances in policies to promote healthy work environments and highlighted the dedication of health personnel.
indigenous medicine
Mofokeng visited a hospital run by the Mapuche community in Temuco that integrates western and traditional medicinepracticed by machis or traditional healers.
From that site, he highlighted how both visions complement each other in the healing of patients and called to respect the rights of indigenous peoples to self-determination, to participate in the design of laws and policies, in decision-making, in the application and in the monitoring of any project, program or policy that affects their rights and interests. lands, and to return their territories so that they can enjoy autonomy and dignity.
He also stated that The complete demilitarization of their lands “is a critical element for their healing.”
Dictatorship and mental health
With respect to mental health, the special rapporteur cited the increase in demand for services in that field due to the intergenerational trauma of the dictatorship, the militarization of indigenous lands and the injuries suffered during the social outbreak of 2019.
For this reason, he requested that increase the number of psychosocial professionals and community-based psychiatry is strengthened for early intervention and treatment.
Mofokeng considered that Chile can soon achieve greater and more equitable access to health care and guarantee the right to health, and urged all actors to carry out a concerted effort to advance policy and legislation.
“Chili can move from the trauma of your past to a future of prosperity and regained dignity for all its people,” stressed the expert.
*Special rapporteurs, independent experts and working groups are part of what is known as special procedures of the Human Rights Council. The Special Procedures, the largest group of independent experts in the United Nations human rights system, is the general name for the Council’s independent investigative and oversight mechanisms, which address specific country situations or thematic issues across all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; They are not United Nations staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent of any government or organization and work in their individual capacity.
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