Health Economics, Policy and Law
Volume 11 – Issue 01 – January 2016
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?jid=HEP&tab=currentissue

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Special Section
Making fair choices on the path to universal health coverage: a précis
Alex Voorhoevea1 c1, Trygve Ottersena2 and Ole F. Norheima2
a1 Philosophy, Logic, and Scientific Method, London School of Economics, UK
a2 Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway
Abstract
We outline key conclusions of the World Health Organisation’s report ‘Making Fair Choices on the Path to Universal Health Coverage (UHC)’. The Report argues that three principles should inform choices on the path to UHC: I. Coverage should be based on need, with extra weight given to the needs of the worse off; II. One aim should be to generate the greatest total improvement in health; III. Contributions should be based on ability to pay and not need. We describe how these principles determine which trade-offs are (un)acceptable. We also discuss which institutions contribute to fair and accountable choices.