CRC/C/PER/CO/3
page 9
Health and health services
46.
The Committee is concerned that:
(a)
Access to health and health services is inadequate especially in rural and remote
areas of the country, resulting in significant disparities in health-care provisions;
(b)
The rates of maternal, infant and under-five mortality, despite some
improvements, continue to be among the highest in Latin America;
(c)
There is high incidence of hepatitis B and anaemia especially among particular
groups of indigenous people;
(d)
A significant proportion of people living in poverty and extreme poverty,
including women and children under 18, are reportedly not affiliated to SIS (Seguro Integral de
Salud);
(e)
Despite various programmes undertaken in this respect - including the National
Programme of Food Assistance (PRONAA) - 25 per cent of children under 5 years of age
and 32 per cent of children under 2 years of age still suffer from chronic malnutrition.
47.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Ensure basic health care and services to all children throughout the country
and continue to address the problem of malnutrition, with special emphasis on rural and
remote areas;
(b)
Strengthen its efforts to urgently tackle infant, child and maternal mortality
throughout the country;
(c)
Expand the “Health Integral Service” (Servicio Integral de Salud) addressed
to families living in poverty or extreme poverty;
(d)
Give special attention to the problem of indigenous communities affected by
Hepatitis B epidemic, including by urgently ensuring vaccination for newborn babies.
48.
The Committee notes the concerns of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to
the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, who recently
visited the State party, with respect to the potential impact that bilateral Trade Agreements may
have on the access to affordable essential medicines for some individuals and groups, including
antiretrovirals for people with HIV/AIDS (E/CN.4/2005/51/Add.3).
49.
The Committee recommends that the State party always take its human rights
obligations into account when negotiating Trade Agreements, in particular as to the
possible impact of commercial agreements on the full enjoyment of the right to health.