Protection of the Right to Health Care During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Southeast Asia: A Retrospective and Prospective Analysis

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a public health crisis which affected all the fields including economic, social, humanitarian, and human rights fields. According to International human rights law and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the right to healthcare stands as a fundamental aspect of ensuring the right to life due to its inherent connection to human well-being. To measure the state of health care in a country, we should assess four criteria which are availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of healthcare services. Using doctrinal research and legal analysis, this paper aims to evaluate the status of the right to healthcare in Southeast Asia during the COVID-19. It is concluded that most Southeast countries effectively managed to control the spread of COVID-19. However, they grappled with challenges related to the availability, accessibility, quality, and acceptability of healthcare services. Therefore, this paper recommends that Southeast countries work to provide health care for all. As well as to take steps to achieve systemic reforms to improve the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of healthcare services. These improvements include Investment in healthcare infrastructure, equitable resource allocation, community engagement and health education, training and support for healthcare workers, and international collaboration among Southeast countries through (ASEAN) and collaboration with other countries and organizations. All these improvements are essential not only for future pandemic preparedness but also for ensuring the fundamental right to health care for all as stated by International human rights law and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).