Universal health care and political economy, neoliberalism and effects of COVID-19: A view of systems and complexity

Chris L Peterson; Christine Walker

doi:10.1111/jep.13631

Universal health care and political economy, neoliberalism and effects of COVID-19: A view of systems and complexity

J Eval Clin Pract. 2022 Apr;28(2):338-340. doi: 10.1111/jep.13631. Epub 2021 Oct 14.

Authors

Chris L Peterson¹, Christine Walker^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Social Inquiry, Bundoora, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
² Department of Medicine, University of Medicine, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
³ Epilepsy Foundation, Surrey Hills, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Abstract

Sturmberg and Martin's application of systems and complexity theory to understanding Universal Health Care (UHC) and Primary Health Care (PHC) is evaluated in the light of the influence of political economy on health systems. Furthermore, the role that neoliberal approaches to governance have had in creating increased inequities is seen as a key challenge for UHC. COVID-19 has emphasized long standing discrepancies in health and these disadvantages require government will and cooperation together with adequate social services to redress these discrepancies in UHC.

Keywords: disease; health; pandemics; societies; universal health care; vulnerable populations.

Publication types

Comment

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Humans
Universal Health Care*
Universal Health Insurance