The right to health must and can be realised: a Cuban case study

Herrera Remy (Nacionalni centar za naučna istraživanja (CNRS), Centar za ekonomiju Sorbone, Pariz, Francuska), remy.herrera@univ‐paris1.fr

Health is a fundamental human right, recognised by numerous international, regional, and national legal instruments. In most countries, including the world’s largest economy, the United States of America, its implementation is currently far from being realised. Today, however, Cuba is demonstrating that the right to health must and can be realised not only through the harmonisation of national legislation with universal legal standards, but also through the development of national medicine and medical practice, the results of which can be applied effectively and on a wider international scale. In this regard, the improvement of cooperation between European countries and Cuba in the field of medicine and medical research could establish new standards of conduct that affirm the universal right of people to health.

Keywords: Cuba, law, health, medicine, research, international cooperation, United Nations