Right To Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Peek Into The Rights Of The Citizens, Especially The Migrant Labourers
Akankshya Anuska Babu & Jyoti Prakash Panda, BA LLB at KIIT Law School, Bhubaneswar
ABSTRACT
In recent years the prospect of health and the right to health for all citizens alike, particularly in India has taken up new reforms and shapes. However, the full need and necessity of such a right were seen and felt as late as when the Covid-19 pandemic hit almost the entire globe. The Covid-19 pandemic tested the healthcare systems of many global superpowers. The pandemic did not pardon any nation and the fragile Indian healthcare system was shaken up to the core. The healthcare system was put to test when the pandemic reached its peak in the country during mid-2020. This was topped with widespread misinformation, lack of understanding of the virus’ novelty, and the huge downpour of migrant labourers post the nationwide lockdowns was the cherry on top of the toppling economy, healthcare system, and the state administration. The article has been written with the purpose of putting together the numerical facts long with the statutory laws concerning the right to health of the citizens of India, especially the migrant labourers during the coronavirus pandemic. This article is in the form of a comparative study between different states. It will give a peek into the availability of healthcare and the violation and obedience of the fundamental rights of the citizens of those states like Maharashtra, New Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh etc. The authors have taken up a mammoth of a task to scrutinize the government response to the healthcare needs of the migrant labourers and the resident citizens alike by both the centre and state machinery by the means of doctrinal research. It is a contribution to the study of constitutional law and its application and violations during a situation like a global pandemic. This can be used to reform the healthcare system to promote social justice and make medical and legal jurisprudence familiar to the readers.
Keywords: Right to health, Covid-19 Pandemic, Healthcare system, Migrant labourers, Comparative study
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