When I first read this word “Neoliberalism”, I did not know precisely
what it means. I thought that it is a new concept related to liberty, but after
I finished my readings I realized that it is totally different!
To make it simple, we can say that “Neoliberalism” is an
economic and political term. It represents a set of economic policies that is
based on Individualism, free market and decentralization
of governmental activities. By applying this concept to health care systems,
neoliberalists consider health care as a product to be sold to citizens who are
considered as consumers. These consumers have the choice to buy the best health
care, that they can afford, from the marketplace (privatization). Hence; social
citizens are converted to consumer citizens.
What a tough policy to be applied in health care systems! Health inequalities and unequal access to
health care are among the major global health issues and, based on my
understanding, such a policy will make the condition even worse. What I believe
really is that the application of neoliberalism will make the rich grow richer
and the poor grow poorer!
I wonder how the governments can be converted from investing
in their communities and people to ruin and destroy their health? What about
their social responsibility towards their citizens? How can they abandon their
role just to increase profitability on the expense of people health? How can we
restrict the health care services to those who can only afford them and
consider others as incomplete citizens who represent an overload on the
community and country?
The need of neoliberalism maybe beneficial for economic reasons.
However; in my opinion, its particular application in health care systems has serious
negative consequences on the social and ethical levels. I believe that we
should always raise the rights of the people over the rights of the capital and
keep the social definition of the citizen rather than the consumer or economic
one especially from the health context!
Source:
McGregor, S. (2001), Neoliberalism and health care.
International Journal of Consumer Studies, 25: 82–89.
Hi Salma, I really enjoyed your post! The fact that healthcare is becoming more of a public good to consumer, rather than a service to the citizens is awful and can be detrimental to the millions of people in the world living in poverty. Many people cannot afford health insurance, and in turn will neglect their negative health behaviors and illnesses. I enjoyed our readings in Health in the Social Context this week, talking about children with uninsured family members. When parents are unable to provide important things such as vaccinations or fresh fruit and vegetables to their children because of insurance and/or monetary reasons, children should be able to attain these things elsewhere, such as a school or church. I agree that people's health should be more important than capital- the government can make money in other ways!
ReplyDeleteSalma, I first had a different view about Neoliberalism as well. Before reading about it I just assumed that it was about what it means to be a liberal. Neoliberalism reminds me of Darwinism, and survival of the fittest. Health is now not an absolute right, but a commodity that can only be acquired by those who have the funds to pay for it. This is a scary notion as this type of health care will only increase the health disparities that we see today. I don't believe that people chose to be in poverty, but there are structural systems in place that tend to maintain a hierarchical system based on many factors including skin tone, education etc that create poverty and structural violence. This type of system doesn't correct itself because it is free, it tends to enforce and continue this system in order to survive and create more profit. Healthcare should be a right guaranteed to all people. Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness does not occur if you don't have good health or the funds to pay for it.
ReplyDeleteso ladies, how do we deal with this increasingly pervasive NL?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteActually, I do not have a definite answer to this question!
ReplyDeleteIn fact, this political concept makes me really frustrated.
But, let's be more positive, analyze the condition and try to put solutions.
Neoliberalism became part of our current life in our modern world. That is why we have to deal with it. I believe that sliding fees system can put a halt to the negative consequesnces of NL regarding health inequity to some extent. In my opinion, this system (sliding fees) can be applied in developed countries and show some success. However; in developing countries, I believe that we have to return back to Grant's idea of the SPHC (even as a transient solutiob) in order to provide the minimum base to make them able to face such a neoliberal monster!
Actually, I do not have a definite answer to this question!
ReplyDeleteIn fact, this political concept makes me really frustrated.
But, let's be more positive, analyze the condition and try to put solutions.
Neoliberalism became part of our current life in our modern world. That is why we have to deal with it. I believe that sliding fees system can put a halt to the negative consequesnces of NL regarding health inequity to some extent. In my opinion, this system (sliding fees) can be applied in developed countries and show some success. However; in developing countries, I believe that we have to return back to Grant's idea of the SPHC (even as a transient solutiob) in order to provide the minimum base to make them able to face such a neoliberal monster!