Author: Neeraj, Dr. Manjeet Kumar

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic emerged as one of the most devastating global crises in modern history, profoundly affecting public health systems, economies, governance structures, and human rights frameworks across the world. The pandemic not only posed a serious threat to life and health but also exposed long-standing inequalities in access to healthcare services, social protection, and economic opportunities. As governments struggled to contain the spread of the virus, issues relating to the realization of the right to health gained unprecedented significance. The pandemic demonstrated that health is not merely a medical concern but a fundamental human right closely linked with dignity, equality, social justice, and sustainable development. This paper examines the right to health from a human rights perspective and critically analyzes its implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores international legal standards concerning health rights, the challenges faced by healthcare systems, the impact of emergency public health measures on civil liberties, and the experiences of vulnerable populations during the crisis. The study further investigates issues such as vaccine inequality, mental health challenges, healthcare accessibility, and governmental accountability. Through a descriptive and analytical approach based on secondary sources, the paper highlights how the pandemic revealed both the strengths and weaknesses of existing human rights protection mechanisms. The study argues that the realization of the right to health requires a comprehensive rights-based approach that goes beyond healthcare delivery to address broader social determinants of health. It concludes that strengthening public health infrastructure, promoting universal healthcare coverage, reducing inequalities, and ensuring equitable access to healthcare resources are essential for safeguarding human rights during future global health emergencies.

Keywords: Right to Health, Human Rights, COVID-19 Pandemic, Public Health, Healthcare Access, Universal Health Coverage, Vaccine Equity, Human Dignity.

Article Info: Received: 18 May 2026; Received in revised form: 13 Jun 2026; Accepted: 16 Jun 2026; Available online: 19 Jun 2026

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.113.71