The Right to Health in Constitutions of the Dominican Republic and the Constitution of the Republic of Brazil

a study of comparative Health Law

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62530/rbdc25p001

Keywords:

Right to Health, Health system, Public health

Abstract

Objective: The paper aims to compare the section corresponding to health in the Brazilian and Dominican Constitutions, with the aim of perceiving differences and similarities. Methods: this was a descriptive-analytical, documentary-based, qualitative study in which a functionalist method was used, as it allowed the identification of intentions in juridical-legal texts. Results: the brazilian CF/88 treats health as a collective right while the dominican treats health as an individual right. The Dominican Constitution deals with health in a single article with two items, while the brazilian one highlights health in five articles and numerous paragraphs, items, among others. Conclusion: although the right to health is guaranteed in both political letters, there is a greater guarantee in the brazilian political letter.

Author Biographies

  • Maria Célia Delduque, Federal University of Maranhão

    Holds a Law degree from the Centro Universitário de Brasília (1997), a Master’s degree in Environmental Planning and Management from the Catholic University of Brasília (2005), a PhD in Public Health from the University of São Paulo (2010), and a postdoctoral fellowship in Law from the University of Cantabria, Spain. Currently, she is a collaborating researcher at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brasília, a member of the Editorial Board of the journal Cadernos Ibero-Americanos de Direito Sanitário, and a reviewer for numerous scientific journals in public health and law. She is also a collaborating researcher at the University of Brasília. Internationally, she is a member of the Ibero-American Network of Health Law, a member of the European Association of Health Law, and former president of the Lusophone Association of Health Law/University of Coimbra (2017/2019). Her expertise lies in the field of Law, with an emphasis on Health Law, focusing mainly on the following topics: health law, public health policies, health mediation, health legislative production, and legal order and health.

  • Sandra Mara Campos Alves, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brasília

    Holds a Law degree from the Federal University of Ceará (1997), a Master’s degree in Social Policy from the University of Brasília (2008), and a PhD in Collective Health from the University of Brasília (2019). Currently, she is a public health researcher at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brasília and Coordinator of the Health Law Program at the same institution. She has experience in the field of Law, with an emphasis on Health Law, focusing mainly on the following topics: right to health, health law, health legislation, public participation, public consultation, and democratic governance.

References

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Published

2025-06-10

Issue

Vol. 25 (2025)

Section

Artigos

How to Cite

DELDUQUE, Maria Célia; ALVES, Sandra Mara Campos. The Right to Health in Constitutions of the Dominican Republic and the Constitution of the Republic of Brazil: a study of comparative Health Law. Revista Brasileira de Direito Constitucional, [S. l.], v. 25, p. 1–10, 2025. DOI: 10.62530/rbdc25p001. Disponível em: https://www.rbdc.com.br/revista/article/view/384. Acesso em: 17 nov. 2025.