THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AND ITS ETHICAL RELEVANCE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IN EUROPE - AN ANALYSIS IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CAPABILITY APPROACH

Caroline Brall; Peter Schröder; Helmut Brand

doi:10.21101/cejph.a4106

THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AND ITS ETHICAL RELEVANCE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IN EUROPE - AN ANALYSIS IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CAPABILITY APPROACH

Caroline Brall^*, Peter Schröder, Helmut Brand

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

1 Citation (Web of Science)

Abstract

Policy responses to the economic crisis have manifest consequences to European population health and health systems. The aim of this article is to assess, by using the capability approach advanced by Sen, the ethical dimension of trade-offs made in health policy due to austerity measures. From a capability approach point of view, austerity measures such as reducing resources for health care, further deregulating the health care market or moving towards privatisation are ethically challenging since they limit opportunities and capabilities for individuals of a population. Public policies should thus aim to guarantee sufficient capabilities (options to access health care and possibilities to make healthy choices) for its populations. Prioritising those in need is a notion the capability approach particularly focuses on in its goal of supporting those with the least capabilities.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3-8
Journal	Central European Journal of Public Health
Volume	24
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a4106
Publication status	Published - Mar 2016

Keywords

economic crisis
austerity
health
health care
capability approach
ethics

Access to Document

10.21101/cejph.a4106

Cite this

@article{455108204c6545a3ae5662800c7bbff5,

title = "THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AND ITS ETHICAL RELEVANCE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IN EUROPE - AN ANALYSIS IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CAPABILITY APPROACH",

abstract = "Policy responses to the economic crisis have manifest consequences to European population health and health systems. The aim of this article is to assess, by using the capability approach advanced by Sen, the ethical dimension of trade-offs made in health policy due to austerity measures. From a capability approach point of view, austerity measures such as reducing resources for health care, further deregulating the health care market or moving towards privatisation are ethically challenging since they limit opportunities and capabilities for individuals of a population. Public policies should thus aim to guarantee sufficient capabilities (options to access health care and possibilities to make healthy choices) for its populations. Prioritising those in need is a notion the capability approach particularly focuses on in its goal of supporting those with the least capabilities.",

keywords = "economic crisis, austerity, health, health care, capability approach, ethics",

author = "Caroline Brall and Peter Schr{\"o}der and Helmut Brand",

year = "2016",

month = mar,

doi = "10.21101/cejph.a4106",

language = "English",

volume = "24",

pages = "3--8",

journal = "Central European Journal of Public Health",

issn = "1210-7778",

publisher = "National Institute of Public Health",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AND ITS ETHICAL RELEVANCE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IN EUROPE - AN ANALYSIS IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CAPABILITY APPROACH

AU - Brall, Caroline

AU - Schröder, Peter

AU - Brand, Helmut

PY - 2016/3

Y1 - 2016/3

N2 - Policy responses to the economic crisis have manifest consequences to European population health and health systems. The aim of this article is to assess, by using the capability approach advanced by Sen, the ethical dimension of trade-offs made in health policy due to austerity measures. From a capability approach point of view, austerity measures such as reducing resources for health care, further deregulating the health care market or moving towards privatisation are ethically challenging since they limit opportunities and capabilities for individuals of a population. Public policies should thus aim to guarantee sufficient capabilities (options to access health care and possibilities to make healthy choices) for its populations. Prioritising those in need is a notion the capability approach particularly focuses on in its goal of supporting those with the least capabilities.

AB - Policy responses to the economic crisis have manifest consequences to European population health and health systems. The aim of this article is to assess, by using the capability approach advanced by Sen, the ethical dimension of trade-offs made in health policy due to austerity measures. From a capability approach point of view, austerity measures such as reducing resources for health care, further deregulating the health care market or moving towards privatisation are ethically challenging since they limit opportunities and capabilities for individuals of a population. Public policies should thus aim to guarantee sufficient capabilities (options to access health care and possibilities to make healthy choices) for its populations. Prioritising those in need is a notion the capability approach particularly focuses on in its goal of supporting those with the least capabilities.

KW - economic crisis

KW - austerity

KW - health

KW - health care

KW - capability approach

KW - ethics

U2 - 10.21101/cejph.a4106

DO - 10.21101/cejph.a4106

M3 - Article

C2 - 27070963

SN - 1210-7778

VL - 24

SP - 3

EP - 8

JO - Central European Journal of Public Health

JF - Central European Journal of Public Health

IS - 1

ER -