Most common complaint is deprivation of right to health services: HRCM

The Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) has said that the most common complaint filed to the commission over the first seven months of this year, is about deprivation of the right to adequate health services.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, President of HRCM Mariyam Azra said that by 4 August 2013, the commission had received 468 complaints regarding deprivation of rights, including 84 complaints regarding deprivation of the right to adequate health services.

She said that discussions had been held with officials of the Ministry of Health and other relevant government authorities following the complaints regarding the health sector.

Member of HRCM Ahmed Abdul Kareem said that the commission had investigated the complaints and made several recommendations, including recommendations on steps to take to ensure that the same problems are not repeated in the future. He however did not provide any details.

Member of HRCM Jeehan Mahmood said that there is a strong correlation between the problems faced in the provision of health services and the budget allocated by the government to the health sector.

Other complaints filed to HRCM over the first seven months of this year include 71 complaints regarding deprivation of the right to employment, 60 complaints regarding deprivation of the right to taking just administrative steps, 39 complaints regarding inhuman activities, and 37 complaints regarding deprivation of children and the elderly of the right to special protection.

The officials of HRCM said that they have initiated investigations into 29 cases regarding lack of human rights, which are ongoing, while investigations have been completed of 60 cases filed this year.