Abstract:

Indigenous peoples’ access to adequate health care remains one of the most challenging and complex areas. There is an urgent need to focus on health issues as well as alternative health care frameworks. As previously stated, health is one of the six mandated areas of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and is one of the focuses of the World Health Organization which recognizes the right to health as a fundamental human right in its constitution. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples includes articles (21, 23, 24 and 29) that refer specifically to the right to health, including indigenous peoples’ right to improving their economic and social conditions in the area of health, with particular attention to the needs of indigenous elders, women, youth, children and persons with disabilities. Further, indigenous peoples have the right to determine their health programmes and to administer these programmes through their own institutions, as well as maintain their traditional health practices. Also, that States take effective measures to ensure that programmes for monitoring, maintaining and restoring the health of indigenous peoples, as developed and implemented by the peoples affected by such materials, are duly implemented.