ENSURING THE PRINCIPLE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH CARE

The article focuses on the problems that arise in the process of realization by people of their right to health in the context of observance of the principles of non-discrimination and equality. The issue of sufficiency of funds allocated for health care is mentioned as it has a decisive influence on the availability for people to enjoy their right to health, as well as on people's possibility to use medical care. The paper follows the principles of analysis of problems related to discrimination against poor groups for whom access to health can be blocked by direct or disguised discrimination. The research target audience was mental health patients. The research aimed to explore current state of affairs and further needs in the area of human rights of persons with mental illness in the process of providing them with medical assistance. The above goal specified the list of respective tasks that included the analysis of international regulatory framework in order to ensure the rights of people with mental illnesses, the review of available statistical data on persons with mental illnesses, the identification of typical forms of manifestation of violations of rights in relation to persons with mental illnesses, the study and evaluation of the current approaches to the treatment of people with mental illnesses, the outline of measures by the state and society to ensure the rights of people with mental illness. The research findings laid grounds for recommendations to ensure mental health patients' rights in the course of medical assistance at international, national, individual levels. The publication was prepared with the support of the "RUDN University Program 5-100.