Issues Brief: Health And Sustainable Development 1

1 TST issues brief: HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT1 Introduction: Health as central to sustainable deve lopment The International Covenant on Economic, Social and C ultural Rights states that, the enjoyment of the highest standards of health is one of the fundamen tal rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, econo mic or social condition. The full enjoyment of the right to health is critical for the enjoyment of other human rights. Good health is thus an end in itself and it plays an integral role in human capabilities and well-being. Health is central to the three dimensions of sustaina ble development. Health is a beneficiary of and a contributor to development. It is also a key indica tor of what people-centred, rights-based, inclusive, and equitable development seeks to achieve2. Health is important as an end in itself and as an integral part of human well-being, which includes material, psychological, social, cultural, educational, work, environmental, political, and pers onal security dimensions. These dimensions of well-being are interrelated and interdependent. Investm ents in health, particularly prevention of ill health, enhance a countrys economic output through th eir effects on educational achievement and skills acquisition, labour productivity and