II. Conceptual framework

B. Pooling and allocation of health funds and resources

10. The obligation to ensure the equitable allocation of health facilities, goods and services for all persons without discrimination is a core obligation under the right to health. The right to access good quality health facilities, goods and services on a non-discriminatory basis, particularly for vulnerable or marginalized groups, including, among others, ethnic, racial, religious and sexual minority groups, women, children and the poor, constitutes an additional core obligation for States. In order to meet these core obligations under the right to health, States must ensure the equitable allocation of health funds and resources towards achieving universal access to good quality health facilities, goods and services, in accordance with the principle of non-discrimination and with special attention to the needs of vulnerable or marginalized populations. Inequitable allocation of health funds and resources may lead to indirect discrimination within health systems, particularly with respect to vulnerable or marginalized groups who often lack the social and political means to challenge the inequitable allocation of public resources (General Comment No. 14, para. 19).

C. Allocation of health funds and resources

46. The right to health approach requires the equitable allocation of health funds and resources towards achieving universal access to good quality health facilities, goods and services, in accordance with the principle of non-discrimination. In all allocative decisions, special attention must be paid to the needs of vulnerable or marginalized groups, including, among others, ethnic, racial, religious and sexual minority groups, women, children and the poor. Better overall health outcomes and more effective health systems result from eliminating inequalities in access to health facilities, goods and services.^[51] States should therefore allocate health funds and resources to ensure that good quality health facilities, goods and services are financially accessible for the poor, physically accessible for rural and remote populations, and responsive to primary health-care needs for all, rather than specialized care for the few.

Link to full text of the report: Report-SRHealth-GA-Health financing-2012-eng