Cent Eur J Public Health 2016, 24(1):3-8 | 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-Bäck, Helmut Brand
Department of International Health, School CAPHRI, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

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

Received: September 16, 2014; Revised: March 24, 2015; Accepted: March 24, 2015; Published: March 1, 2016  Show citation

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Brall C, Schröder-Bäck P, Brand H. The Economic Crisis and its Ethical Relevance for Public Health in Europe - an Analysis in the Perspective of the Capability Approach. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2016;24(1):3-8. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a4106. PubMed PMID: 27070963.
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