The challenge of government in the constructing of health care policy

Rocco Buttiglione

Manuela Pasquini

pp. 229-239

in: Paulina Taboada, Kateryna Fedoryka, Patricia Donohue-White (eds), Person, society and value, Berlin, Springer, 2002

Abstract

In the political arena, we are used to considering and hearing about health issues from a monetary perspective. To a certain extent, this perspective is justified and understandable, for our democratic states — especially the most developed countries of the West — are confronted today with the real danger of financial collapse. Indeed, one of the main reasons for the financial crisis of our democracies is the constantly growing expense of health care. It seems that the cost of health care is expanding and will expand at a pace that will make a balanced governmental budget impossible in the near future. Consequently, one of the most difficult challenges for any government is to find a way to reduce health care costs without violating what is more and more frequently referred to as the right to health.