The demand for health seen as the citizen's right, has led the State to accept increasing responsabilities regarding the health of the people, as evidenced by policies of health promotion, protection and recovery. The activity of a modern State ("State of law") is exercised according to juridical principles. It is highly advisable, therefail, that health workers-those professionals that society has appointed to work on its behalf for the raising of its health levels should have knowledge of the rules which guide the State's performance in the health area. Thus, foreign experiences in teaching health law as well as the recommendations of International Health Agencies, analysed in this paper, lead us to conclude that the teaching of health law is a must among the Brazilian academic priorities.
Health rights; Legislation health; Ethics, medical; Government policies and organization