Policy Press
THREE Markets, profits and health care
Abstract
The focus of Chapter Three is on health care. It shows how class relations in general, and the changing dynamic between class relations and state in particular, have precipitated a calculated political strategy post-1970s of undermining the precepts and practices of the National Health Service (NHS) in England and the United Kingdom. The decline of the NHS is charted in detail. In this context Chomsky’s formula – first, underfund public services to, second, create public dissatisfaction then, third, invite private health care providers to rescue ailing public services – is examined.
Abstract
The focus of Chapter Three is on health care. It shows how class relations in general, and the changing dynamic between class relations and state in particular, have precipitated a calculated political strategy post-1970s of undermining the precepts and practices of the National Health Service (NHS) in England and the United Kingdom. The decline of the NHS is charted in detail. In this context Chomsky’s formula – first, underfund public services to, second, create public dissatisfaction then, third, invite private health care providers to rescue ailing public services – is examined.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of boxes vi
- About the author vii
- Introduction 1
- The healthy society 9
- Social conditions and health inequalities 24
- Markets, profits and health care 44
- The structure/culture axis 59
- COVID-19 and the fractured society 76
- The challenge of global inequality in the Anthropocene 96
- Planet Earth 107
- War 120
- Why theory matters 132
- A theoretical framework for achieving the healthy society 154
- Policy, practice and obstacles 181
- The future: whither sociology? 204
- References 215
- Index 228
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of boxes vi
- About the author vii
- Introduction 1
- The healthy society 9
- Social conditions and health inequalities 24
- Markets, profits and health care 44
- The structure/culture axis 59
- COVID-19 and the fractured society 76
- The challenge of global inequality in the Anthropocene 96
- Planet Earth 107
- War 120
- Why theory matters 132
- A theoretical framework for achieving the healthy society 154
- Policy, practice and obstacles 181
- The future: whither sociology? 204
- References 215
- Index 228
