Access to Health Care in the Scandinavian Countries: Ethical Aspects |
| |
Authors: | Sören Holm Per-Erik Liss Ole Frithjof Norheim |
| |
Institution: | (1) Centre for Social Ethics and Policy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester;(2) Department of Health and Society, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden (Corresponding author E-mail;(3) Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, Division for general practice, University of Bergen, Ulriksdal, Bergen, Norway |
| |
Abstract: | The health care systems are fairly similar in theScandinavian countries. The exact details vary, but inall three countries the system is almost exclusivelypublicly funded through taxation, and most (or all)hospitals are also publicly owned and managed. Thecountries also have a fairly strong primary caresector (even though it varies between the countries),with family physicians to various degrees acting asgatekeepers to specialist services. In Denmark most ofthe GP services are free. For the patient in Norwayand Sweden there are out-of-pocket co-payments for GPconsultations, with upper limits, but consultations forchildren are free. Hospital treatment is free inDenmark while the other countries use a system without-of-pocket co-payment. There is a very strongpublic commitment to access to high quality healthcare for all. Solidarity and equality form theideological basis for the Scandinavian welfare state.Means testing, for instance, has been widely rejectedin the Scandinavian countries on the grounds thatpublic services should not stigmatise any particulargroup. Solidarity also means devoting specialconsideration to the needs of those who have lesschance than others of making their voices heard orexercising their rights. Issues of limited access arenow, however, challenging the thinking about a healthcare system based on solidarity. |
| |
Keywords: | access ethics health care system primary health care solidarity |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|