September 8- On September 8, the NHRCK held an open forum titled “Influenza A, Finding Solutions from a Human Rights Perspective” to evaluate governmental policies on Influenza A and to possibly come up with alternative plans with the input from the experts.
During the forum, the participants agreed that the government failed to take full initiatives to honor citizens’ right to information. Regarding the right to access to health and medical services, the participants stressed that △ hospital health care system should maximize the number of isolation wards △ the government should try to alleviate the burden of low-income groups regarding the costs of medical treatments for Influenza A △ the government should set a clear plan for adequate supply of vaccines and medicines. It was also emphasized that people suspected of having contracted Influenza A should be given sick-leaves and that an appropriate social care system is needed for child patients at home.
The NHRCK will keep monitoring the government policies on Influenza A and evaluate them from the human rights perspective. At the same time, the NHRCK will continue its efforts to find appropriate ways to distribute vaccines and medicines.
