Clarifying the Right to Health through Supranational Monitoring: The Highest Standard of Health Attainable

As recognized by Gostin in Global Health Law (2014), the principles of equality and dignity put human rights law in a unique position to promote progress towards global health equity. This seems particularly relevant for the right to health, which entitles everyone to 'the highest standard of health attainable'. However, it is still unclear what such a standard entails, and in order for the right to health to be adequately enforced and, thus, to effectively channel progress towards global health equity, it is fundamental that its scope of interests be clarified. Supranational human rights bodies have a key role in that regard. Not only can they clarify the legal content of the right to health for key actors through their monitoring procedures, they can also set common standards for states under their jurisdictions. Therefore, their contributions should be examined and optimized.