The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) proclaims a universal human right to health, in Article 12, which reads:

Let us briefly note some features of this right. First, this is a positive right that requires positive action on the part of corresponding duty bearers; the legal duties to fulfil this right fall primarily on one's state. Second, this is a right to the enjoyment of health, rather than a right to goods or services (such as healthcare) that would enable one to have a healthy life. In other words, it is a right to a certain outcome in terms of health and not merely to the opportunity for health. Third, it is a right to the highest attainable standard rather than an adequate or sufficient level of health. However, the highest attainable standard is normally interpreted in a rather conservative fashion, in the sense that it refers to the highest standard achievable in a specific country, given its resource limitations. This means that not all right-holders everywhere are entitled to the same level of health.