Utilitarianism is an ethical theory concerned with the consequences of healthcare providers’ actions. The theory recognizes good with utility and the right action that enhances utility. The moral obligation of the healthcare provider is, therefore, to maximize utility. Utility is that which is considered good and moral, the satisfaction of preferences and satisfaction of interests.
From the utilitarian ethical theory, the government should intervene in health coverage to maximize utility and ensure access to quality healthcare. Costs involved in healthcare should allow for the total welfare of everyone in society. Health services should be formed and distributed efficiently and in accordance with equity. This approach gave origin to intended universal coverage healthcare systems, which tries to provide healthcare to as many members of the society as possible ( Kahn & Marseille, 2019). The utilitarian approach is considered inclusive as it attempts to guarantee every member of the society access to healthcare at a free or affordable cost. The main limitation is that such systems tend to offer the same level of coverage for all regardless of an individual’s unique healthcare needs.
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This approach wishes everyone to enjoy the highest attainable level of healthcare as a fundamental right without regard to economic or social condition, race, religious affiliation, or political stand. While such a healthcare system can be achieved to a point, financial constraints are a reality hampering the attainment of this ideal. Realistically, expensive new technologies, limited financial resources, and constrained national budgets impede the provision of high standards of healthcare using the utilitarian approach. On the positive side, utilitarianism theory calls for more unselfishness and elimination of prejudice and discrimination. It may, however, be a source of harm than good. Does the greatest good for the greatest number of people justify an ethically questionable decision? This may mean injustice to the individual whose decision is taken against in order to satisfy the interest of the many.
Reference
Kahn, J., Marseille, E. (2019). Utilitarianism and the ethical foundations of cost-effectiveness analysis in resource allocation for global health. Biomedcentral. https://peh-med.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13010-019-0074-7
