The Paradox of Happiness: Health and Human Rights in the Kingdom of Bhutan

摘要

The Kingdom of Bhutan is seeking to progressively realize the human right to health without addressingthe cross-cutting human rights principles essential to a rights-based approach to health. Through alandscape analysis of the Bhutanese health system, documentary review of Bhutanese reporting tothe United Nations human rights system, and semi-structured interviews with health policymakersin Bhutan, this study examines the normative foundations of Bhutan’s focus on “a more meaningfulpurpose for development than just mere material satisfaction.” Under this development paradigm ofGross National Happiness, the Bhutanese health system meets select normative foundations of the rightto health, seeking to guarantee the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of health care andunderlying determinants of health. However, where Bhutan continues to restrict the rights of minoritypopulations—failing to address the ways in which human rights are indivisible, interdependent, andinterrelated—additional reforms will be necessary to realize the right to health. Given the continuingprevalence of minority rights violations in the region, this study raises research questions for comparativestudies in other rights-denying national contexts and advocacy approaches to advance principles of nondiscrimination,participation, and accountability through health policy.