Normative needs in healthcare: toward a new conceptualization of equity and capabilities

Silvia Coretti and Matteo Ruggeri ()
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Matteo Ruggeri: Istituto di Politica Economica, Universita` Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano

Rivista Internazionale di Scienze Sociali, 2014, vol. 122, issue 4, 383-400

Abstract: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is a state of complete physical and psychological well-being. Such a definition entails a multi-dimensional approach to the promotion of health. This issue rules out the application of normative judgments relying on Welfare Economics framework. Based on the existing literature, this paper discusses the implications of the application of different theories of justice to address allocative decisions within the healthcare sector. In particular, we discuss inconsistencies of the Welfare Economics framework, as well as, possible backdrops of extra-welfarist approaches. Among those, the capability approach by Sen seems to capture best the multidimensional nature of health emphasized by the WHO. However, further research is needed to develop a measurement framework consistent with the capability approach.

Keywords: Health policy; Health inequalities; Social Values. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 I11 I14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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