Neoliberal Policies During The Covid-19 Pandemic: The Role of the Social State in Ensuring Equality and Equity in Health

Abstract

Reducing inequalities and ensuring equity in healthcare services have always been challenging processes for states. This struggle has become even more complex under the influence of neoliberal economic policies. In this study, the role of the welfare state in promoting equity and reducing inequalities in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic, amid the global influence of neoliberal policies, is evaluated in the context of the literature. It has been reported that individual, social, economic, and environmental factors known as the social determinants of health play a significant role in the emergence of health inequalities both between and within countries. Achieving a healthy society fundamentally depends on equity and fairness, and the state's role in ensuring equity in healthcare through social policies is of great importance. However, neoliberal policies have undermined and restricted the role of the welfare state in healthcare services, leading to a deepening of health inequalities. The weakening of the state's regulatory and social welfare functions in the health sector, driven by neoliberal policies, has led to significant shortcomings in pandemic management in many countries. In overcoming the COVID-19 health crisis, the state has re-emerged as a central actor by reclaiming its social role and becoming more effective in pandemic governance and control.

Keywords

• Covid-19
• equality and equity in health
• neoliberal policies
• welfare state
• health policy

Project Number

Yok

Covid-19 Pandemisinde Neoliberal Politikalar: Sosyal Devletin Sağlıkta Eşitlik ve Hakkaniyeti Sağlamadaki Rolü

Abstract

Sağlık hizmetlerinde eşitsizliklerin azaltılması ve hakkaniyetin sağlanması, devletler için her zaman zorlu bir mücadele süreci olmuştur. Neoliberal ekonomik politikaların etkisiyle bu durum daha da karmaşık hale gelmiştir. Bu çalışmada, Covid-19 pandemi sürecinde, dünya genelinde etkili olan neoliberal politikaların etkisinde sosyal devletin sağlıkta eşitlik ve hakkaniyeti sağlamadaki rolü literatür kapsamında değerlendirilmiştir. Ülkeler arası ve ülkeler içinde sağlıkta eşitsizliklerin oluşumunda; sağlığın sosyal belirleyicileri olarak bilinen bireysel, sosyal, ekonomik ve çevresel faktörlerin yer aldığı bildirilmiştir. Sağlıklı bir topluma ulaşmada eşitlik ve hakkaniyet, temel unsurlar arasında yer almakta olup, devletin, sağlık hizmetlerinde, sosyal politikalar aracılığıyla hakkaniyeti sağlama ve sağlık eşitsizliklerini azaltmada rolü önemlidir. Ancak neoliberal politikalar sosyal devletin sağlık hizmetlerindeki rolünü olumsuz etkileyerek sınırlandırdığından, sağlık hizmetlerindeki eşitsizliklerin daha da arttığı görülmektedir. Neoliberal politikaların devletin sağlık alanındaki düzenleyici ve sosyal refahı gözeten rolünü zayıflatması, çoğu ülkede, Covid-19 salgın yönetiminde ciddi yetersizliklere yol açmıştır. Covid-19 sağlık krizinin aşılmasında, devletin yeniden sosyal rolü üstlenerek salgın yönetimi ve kontrolünde etkin baş aktör olduğu görülmüştür.

Keywords

• Covid-19
• sağlıkta eşitlik ve hakkaniyet
• neoliberal politikalar
• sosyal devlet
• sağlık politikası

Supporting Institution

Yok

Project Number

Yok

Ethical Statement

Etik kurul izini gerektiren çalışma değil

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