This article discusses the nature and scope of international health law as anemerging field of public international law. It is argued that the protection of healthreflects a pressing social need that should now be spoken of in the vocabulary ofinternational law. Furthermore, there is an urgent need for counterbalancing interestssuch as international trade, global commerce and the welfare interests of the protectionof the health of both individuals and populations worldwide. As of now,international health law is not a well-developed field. The health-related standardsettinglegal instruments are very fragmented as there is no overall internationalrecognition of international health law as a distinct branch of international law.Enormous challenges lie ahead, especially in terms of strengthening the existinginstruments and addressing the responsibilities of non-state actors in the health field.