Indian Medical Association Concern Over Violations of fundamental health rights in Camp Liberty

                   

Date: Wed, Jan 21, 2015 at 3:21 PM
To,
Honorable Dr. Haider al-Abadi
Prime Minister Republic of Iraq
Subject: Indian Medical Association Concern Over Violations of fundamental health rights in Camp Liberty

Dear Prime Minister
We at Indian Medical Association, the largest medical NGO of the world with over 250,000 doctors as members express our deep concerns about the disturbing health conditions in Camp Liberty in Iraq.
As per the information received by IMA, from Amnesty International and other global human rights organizations, it looks that the inmates of Camp Liberty are being subject to violations of their fundamental health rights. These restrictions amount to very serious breaches of basic human rights, including the right to health and the right to be free from inhuman and degrading treatment.
The violations include:

•Restricted access to health professionals for sick persons
•No privacy with failure to respect the ordinary rights of patients to medical confidentiality
•Denial of travel outside Camp Liberty to receive urgent medical treatment
•Failure to provide interpreters during interactions with health professionals.
•Hospitalization of patients and purchase of medicine have been prevented.
•Cancellation of medical appointments, delayed transfers of patients to hospital, or denial of permission to travel outside the Camp to receive treatment.
•These on-going obstructions have resulted in the rapid deterioration of the health
conditions of several patients of the Camp Liberty and even in the death of some. As per reports lack of timely and appropriate care have resulted in deaths of up to 22 residents of the camp. '

We at IMA are extremely concerned by this situation that reveal flagrant violations of medical ethics principles and human rights standards. The right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health is a fundamental element of human rights enshrined in article 14 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights that Iraq has ratified in 1971.
We urge the Iraqi authorities to respect its commitment and take action as a matter of urgency in order to ensure to the residents of the Camp Liberty full access to adequate health care facilities, whether inside or outside the camp.
Kindly ensure that health personnel work with the assurance that medical ethics principles, such as confidentiality, are entirely respected without any reservation.
With Kind Regards

Prof Dr A Marthanda Pillai
Padma Shri Awardee
National President
Indian Medical Association

Prof. D.K.K.Aggarwal
Padma Shri, National Science Communication &
Dr B C Roy National Awardee
Hony. Secretary General
Indian Medical Association
President, Heart Care Foundation of India