The right to prevention, early detection and medical rehabilitation under national and international aspects.

The importance of prevention and early detection and rehabilitation has been recognized and emphasized at national and international level for more than a decade. But systematic measures for implementation are still lagging far behind other rehabilitation activities. Civil rights legislation established the rights of citizens to protection of health, but health promoting and protecting measures must also be spelled out specifically in legislation. The most important aspects of such legislation are highlighted and illustrated by examples from the Federal Republic of Germany. The population needs information on possible prevention which should start in school. Human genetic counselling and prenatal counselling must be made readily available. Vigorous campaigns against substance abuse are vital. Pregnant women need special health protection support. Transportation, workplace and home must be made safer to name only a few areas in need of special legislation. Experiences in the beneficial effects of early detection have been made and documented in recent years and can serve as guidelines for further improvements. Assistance to developing countries in the areas of prevention, early detection and medical rehabilitation should become the most important task of development aid.