In the context of the sensitive field of ​​equal access for all to health services, today’s tragic degradation of the welfare state -due to the countries’ fiscal crisis- raises a particularly controversial issue: how can national health systems achieve general coverage of health services, safeguarding thus the unimpeded access to healthcare even of those persons suffering the negative consequences of poverty and social exclusion, i.e. how can the “right to health” be practically fulfilled under these specific circumstances?

The purpose of the analyses in the book at hand, being the first volume of the series “Human Rights and Institutional Modernisation” -part of the MFHR actions and activities- is to shed light on the idea of social welfare state as is currently defined by the values of the fundamental human rights, and specifically on its more sensitive dimension of accessing health services, highlighting at the same time -on the basis of a scientific and theoretical pluralism- the new directions of the European Social Model, while simultaneously identifying the points of divergence and convergence with the American model of social protection.

At the same time, with regard to our country, the abovementioned analyses intend to contribute to the treatment of the contemporary deficiencies of welfare state, especially through an interdisciplinary approach and the comparison of exemplary and innovative national practices of social solidarity of other countries in the specific context of confronting all forms of inequalities while accessing healthcare services.