Cardiff University | Prifysgol Caerdydd ORCA
Online Research @ Cardiff 
WelshClear Cookie - decide language by browser settings

The effects of Neoliberal policies on access to healthcare for people with disabilities

Sakellariou, Dikaios ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2668-2834 and Rotarou, Elena 2017. The effects of Neoliberal policies on access to healthcare for people with disabilities. International Journal for Equity in Health 16 , 199. 10.1186/s12939-017-0699-3

[thumbnail of IJEH.pdf]
Preview
PDF - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (366kB) | Preview

Abstract

Neoliberal reforms lead to deep changes in healthcare systems around the world, on account of their emphasis on free market rather than the right to health. People with disabilities can be particularly disadvantaged by such reforms, due to their increased healthcare needs and lower socioeconomic status. In this article, we analyse the impacts of neoliberal reforms on access to healthcare for disabled people. This article is based on a critical analytical review of the literature and on two case studies, Chile and Greece. Chile was among the first countries to introduce neoliberal reforms in the health sector, which led to health inequalities and stratification of healthcare services. Greece is one of the most recent examples of countries that have carried extensive changes in healthcare, which have resulted in deterioration of the quality of healthcare services. Through a review of the policies performed in these two countries, we propose that the pathways that affect access to healthcare for disabled people include: a) Policies directly or indirectly targeting healthcare, affecting the entire population, including disabled people; and b) Policies affecting socioeconomic determinants, directly or indirectly targeting disabled people, and indirectly impacting access to healthcare. The power differentials produced through neoliberal policies that focus on economic rather than human rights indicators, can lead to a category of disempowered people, whose health needs are subordinated to the markets. The effects of this range from catastrophic out-of-pocket payments to compromised access to healthcare. Neoliberal reforms can be seen as a form of structural violence, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable parts of the population – such as people with disabilities – and curtailing access to basic rights, such as healthcare.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Published Online
Status: Published
Schools: Healthcare Sciences
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Publisher: BioMed Central
ISSN: 1475-9276
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 8 November 2017
Date of Acceptance: 8 November 2017
Last Modified: 04 May 2023 11:09
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/106343

Citation Data

Cited 37 times in Scopus. View in Scopus. Powered By Scopus® Data

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item Edit Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics