By: L.N. Reklai
July 9, 2017 (Koror, Palau) As Palau celebrates its 37th Constitution Day it is noted that Palau’s Constitution has been amended to include Free Preventive Health Care as one of the fundamental rights of everyone Palauan.
Article IV of Palau’s Constitution was amended on July 15, 2005 to include a new fundamental right.
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“Section 16. The national government shall provide free preventive health care for every citizen as prescribed law.”
Many developed countries cites access to healthcare as fundamental right. EU, United States, World Health Organization refer to health care as a fundamental right and advocate access to affordable preventive healthcare.
Palau Constitution mandates the government to provide free preventive health care to every citizen by law.
No law has been enacted to implement this specific right but a law has been adopted that creates a coordinating mechanism that promotes and support reduction of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and provides a funding source for NCD reduction.
Palau also enacted a national insurance law in 2012 that covers over 95 percent of its population. [/restrict]