A Study on the Constitutional Aspect of the Right to Health

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is a state of total physical, mental, social, educational, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It thus denotes a state in which a person can enjoy life to the fullest measure not merely by his physical condition but also by having his mental faculties at the maximum level. The right to "life" under Article 21 means living with dignity, not merely survival. This encompasses the right to livelihood, adequate living standards, hygienic working conditions, and leisure, making the Right to Health crucial for a dignified life. Article 21 should be interpreted in conjunction with the directive principles of state policy to understand the state's responsibility. The law is the instrument to protect the health and all fundamental rights of the citizen given under Indian Constitution.