How Capitalist Globalization Forecloses on Health Systems

http://www.counterpunch.org/2019/06/28/how-capitalist-globalization-forecloses-on-health-systems/
Date Written:  2019-06-28
Publisher:  CounterPunch
Year Published:  2019
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX23734

Discussion of the multi-author collection "Health Care under the Knife." The book criticizes many aspects of medicine under capitalism but falls short of promoting radical alternatives.

Abstract: 
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Excerpt:

This book is about antagonism between the neoliberal form of capitalism and decent health care. On display are capitalist-induced perversions that impinge on the delivery of care, interactions among the various health-care players, and the ideals and presumed mission of health workers. Corporations, institutions, and the state do the dirty work, mainly in the United States, but elsewhere too. A record emerges demonstrating that health care for all won’t happen under advanced capitalism....

These failings plus others described in the book lend support to the book’s main point: real health-care reform is impossible as long as rules, standards, and priorities of neoliberalism are in charge. The Affordable Care Act is shown to have hugely benefited the private insurance industry; it left 27 million Americans uninsured. Having adopted concepts of managed care, the legislation limits access by allowing pre-authorization, cost sharing, utilization review, high deductible plans, tiered benefit packages, and exclusion of out-of-plan providers.