Health care as a universal right.

Autor: Nunes R; Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Estrada da Circunvalação 9925, 4250-150 Porto, EU Portugal., Nunes SB; Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Estrada da Circunvalação 9925, 4250-150 Porto, EU Portugal., Rego G; Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Estrada da Circunvalação 9925, 4250-150 Porto, EU Portugal.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Zeitschrift fur Gesundheitswissenschaften = Journal of public health [Z Gesundh Wiss] 2017; Vol. 25 (1), pp. 1-9. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Aug 09.
DOI: 10.1007/s10389-016-0762-3
Abstrakt: Purpose: Most developed societies recognise the existence of a basic right of access to health care of appropriate quality, considering it a positive welfare right. It can even be one of the most important achievements of pluralistic and secular societies. The main objective of this study is to suggest the foundations for a universal right to health care, meaning the right of access to health care of appropriate quality. A second objective is to propose the necessary tools so that access to health care is viable in a specific commonwealth in accordance with available resources.
Methods: To find this balance between an existing variable geometry and the actual level of resources of each specific commonwealth, the authors suggest the compatibility between Norman Daniels' "accountability for reasonableness" and the integrated view of health of the World Health Organisation through the "equal opportunity function".
Results: The equal opportunity function appears to be an ethically acceptable solution for the existing variable geometry because it allows for different levels of provision and promotes an ethical rationing fully respecting accountability for reasonableness.
Conclusion: The basic right of access to health care of appropriate quality is a fundamental humanitarian principle that should be enjoyed by all citizens of all countries, and the international community should recognise the obligation to promote these ideals by any means available. Indeed, although social rights such as health care demand citizens' solidarity to be enjoyed, only with the universalisation of social rights will humanity be more equal in the future.
Competing Interests: Compliance with Ethical Standards Ethical approval This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. Conflict of Interest Rui Nunes declares that he has no conflict of interest. Sofia B. Nunes declares that she has no conflict of interest, and Guilhermina Rego declares that she has no conflict of interest. Ethical statement The authors declare that there are no potential competing interests of any nature. It is also stated that Rui Nunes, Sofia B. Nunes and Guilhermina Rego have made substantial contributions to the conception and design of the paper and have been involved in drafting the manuscript. All authors have given final approval of the version to be published.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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