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Creating universal health care in Ireland: a legal context

Lau, Manfred, Larkin, Charles orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-0352-2504, Harty, Michael orcid logoORCID: 0000-0001-9371-4106 and Corbet, Shaen orcid logoORCID: 0000-0001-7430-7417 (2021) Creating universal health care in Ireland: a legal context. Health Policy . ISSN 0168-8510

Abstract
In this paper we establish a working definition of, and develop a legal rationale for, the insertion of a constitutional Right to Health (RTH) protection in the Constitution of Ireland. We propose that a legal framework exists for the judicial enforcement of a right to health in Ireland, as based on parallels drawn between Irish case law and that of RSA, a comparable common law constitutional democracy with a developed jurisprudential approach to its constitutional RTH. When modelled after precedential international provisions, this right strengthens and defends health policy goals (such as universal health care) through a common-law system of governmental accountability. Additionally, national rights to health have observable correlations with improved public health, and it stimulates institutional initiatives. The 1937 Constitution of Ireland includes several personal, social, and economic rights, and a RTH would complement the existing right to primary education as a socio-economic right. We note these considerations were discussed during the legislative proposal made in the 32nd Dáil for a constitutional RTH, which emerged in response to Ireland’s ongoing efforts toward health policy reform.
Metadata
Item Type:Article (Published)
Refereed:Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:Universal health care; The right to health; Ireland; Constitutional change
Subjects:Social Sciences > Law
DCU Faculties and Centres:DCU Faculties and Schools > DCU Business School
Publisher:Elsevier
Official URL:https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2021.04.003
Copyright Information:© 2021 The Authors. Open Access (CC BY-4.0)
Use License:This item is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License. View License
ID Code:25904
Deposited On:27 May 2021 10:57 by Thomas Murtagh . Last Modified 27 May 2021 10:57
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