Going Public: The Unmaking and Remaking of Universal Healthcare

Corporate players play a significant role in universal health coverage ideologies and implementation, and social innovation-driven approaches to expanding primary care in low-income settings are crucial. The paper explores the evolving meanings of universal health/healthcare in global health politics and policy, highlighting their close relationship with corporate interests and exigencies. It also juxtaposes three social innovations targeting niche markets for lower-cost services in the Majority World with three present-day examples of publicly financed and delivered primary healthcare, demonstrating the corporatization of PHC and its impact on healthcare quality and access.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 102 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2024
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Universal health coverage (UHC) is a crucial concept that emphasizes the importance of ensuring that all individuals have access to quality healthcare services. It is a fundamental human right that has been recognized by various international agreements and organizations, including the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Corporate players have played a significant role in shaping universal health coverage ideologies and implementing them. They have been instrumental in providing funding, technology, and expertise to countries that are striving to improve their healthcare systems. However, the involvement of corporations in healthcare has also raised concerns about the potential for profit-driven motives to compromise the quality of care and the accessibility of services.

One of the key challenges in expanding primary care in low-income settings is the lack of infrastructure and resources. This has led to the development of social innovation-driven approaches to improving access to healthcare. Social innovation refers to the use of innovative ideas and practices to address social and economic challenges, including healthcare.

There are several social innovations that have been targeted at niche markets for lower-cost services in the Majority World. These innovations include telemedicine, mobile clinics, and community health workers. Telemedicine, for example, uses technology to provide remote medical consultations and diagnoses, which can be particularly useful in rural and remote areas where access to healthcare is limited. Mobile clinics, on the other hand, provide healthcare services directly to communities, often using portable medical equipment and vehicles. Community health workers, who are trained members of the community, play a vital role in providing primary care, education, and health promotion services.

In contrast to these social innovations, there are three present-day examples of publicly financed and delivered primary healthcare (PHC). These examples include the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom, the Medicare program in the United States, and the Universal Health Care (UHC) program in Brazil.

However, the corporatization of PHC has had a significant impact on the quality of care and the accessibility of services. Corporations have been involved in the privatization of healthcare services, which has led to increased costs for patients and reduced government funding for healthcare. This has resulted in a shortage of healthcare workers, inadequate equipment, and limited access to healthcare services in some areas.

Furthermore, the corporatization of PHC has led to the normalization of inferior care, private profit, and dispossession of peoples. Corporations have been able to exploit the lack of regulation and oversight in the healthcare industry to prioritize their profits over the health and well-being of patients. This has led to the commodification of healthcare, where patients are treated as consumers rather than patients.

In conclusion, corporate players have played a significant role in shaping universal health coverage ideologies and implementing them. However, their involvement in healthcare has also raised concerns about the potential for profit-driven motives to compromise the quality of care and the accessibility of services. Social innovation-driven approaches to expanding primary care in low-income settings have the potential to address these challenges and improve access to healthcare. However, the corporatization of PHC has had a negative impact on the quality of care and the accessibility of services. It is essential to ensure that the interests of patients and the public are prioritized in the healthcare industry to ensure that universal health coverage is achieved.

ISBN-13: 9781009209571