Topic: Healthcare as a Human Right
Country: Indonesia
Delegate Name: Brooke Michelson
School: Roeper School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Indonesia position papers GLIMUN 2012 committees
Healthcare as a human right is an issue with many facets, definitions, and debatable points. While most agree that healthcare is a human right, many have varying opinions about what extent of healthcare is a right, and to what degree a nation’s government is monetarily responsible for providing it to its population. Comprehensive healthcare can prove to be a huge financial strain on a nation: In 2008, the health care industry consumed an average of 9.0 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) across the most developed OECD countries. The United States (16.0%), France (11.2%), and Switzerland (10.7%) were the top three spenders.
The Republic of Indonesia runs into many obstacles when addressing healthcare as a human right and the government’s responsibility for it. Primarily, there is a shortage of doctors. WHO reported that In 2006, ratio of general practitioners was 19.9 per 100,000. This shortage is only compounded by the unequal distribution of health workers due the great variations in geographic distribution of wealth. Though our nation has challenges to overcome, we are committed to providing basic healthcare, hospital treatment when ailment or disease strikes, to all of our citizens. Currently, an estimated 56 percent of Indonesia’s population of around 240 million hold some form of health insurance, mainly coming from the private sector. WHO also reported that In 2003, around 34% of total health expenditure is undertaken by public sector agencies, while 66% is private. We have an ambitious yet important plan to shift more of the basic healthcare burden onto the government, and we urge other member states to do the same. We aim to have a system of universal social health insurance coverage in place by 2014, with basic hospital bed stay and care being covered for every Indonesian.
When discussing Healthcare as a human right, it is imperative that committee members work to define key terms and meanings of what extent of healthcare is an essential right. It is also important to work towards solutions to push member states to prioritize providing healthcare and approbating and following the example of those who do. We all must acknowledge that the health and well being of a nation’s population ought to be at the forefront a government’s plan. The Republic of Indonesia looks forward to working with The Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee to work towards clarification and resolution of this issue.
