Towards health equity: a framework for the application of proportionate universalism

Posted on by

Research

Towards health equity: a framework for the application of proportionate universalism

Gemma Carey, Brad Crammond, Evelyne De Leeuw

International Journal for Equity in Health (2015) 14:81

Published online: 15 September 2015

Abstract / Resumen:

Introduction: The finding that there is a social gradient in health has prompted considerable interest in public health circles. Recent influential works describing health inequities and their causes do not always argue cogently for a policy framework that would drive the most appropriate solutions differentially across the social gradient This paper aims to develop a practice heuristic for proportionate universalism. Methods: Through a review the proposed heuristic integrates evidence from welfare state and policy research, the literature on universal and targeted policy frameworks, and a multi-level governance approach that adopts the principle of subsidiarity. Results: The proposed heuristic provides a more-grained analysis of different policy approaches, integral for operationalizing the concept of proportionate universalism. Conclusion: The proposed framework would allow governments at all levels, social policy developers and bureaucrats, public health professionals and activists to consider the appropriateness of distinctive policy objectives across distinctive population needs within universal welfare state principles.

Keywords / Palabras clave:

Equity in Health; Universal Health Coverage; Health Inequities; Health Planning; Health Research Policy

How to obtain this report / Como obtener este informe: click here.

http://www.equityhealthj.com/content/14/1/81

Visit the Portal/Blog of the PAHO/WHO Equity List & Knowledge network : http://equity.bvsalud.org/

Visite el Sítio/Blog de la Lista de Equidad y Red de Conocimiento: : http://equity.bvsalud.org/es/

For additional information of the Equity List or contributions please contact Mrs. Eliane P. Santos, Advisor, Library and Information Networks ­ KBR/ Pan American Health Organization, RRegional Office of the World Health Organization – pereirae@paho.org

Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office of the World Health Organization for the Americas

Office of the Assistant Director

Area of Knowledge Management, Bioethics and Research (KBR)

http://www.paho.org

__________

Leave a Comment