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What would a socialist health service look like?

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Abstract

A socialist health service cannot be a socialist island in a sea of capitalism, as the record of the British National Health Service shows. Nonetheless, since health is a basic need, it can be a key component of the advocacy of socialism. I propose two central socialist principles. On the basis of these I suggest that a socialist health system would emphasise care rather than service; insist on democratic structures and control of resources; and require the prohibition of private medicine.

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Brecher, B. What would a socialist health service look like?. Health Care Anal 5, 217–225 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02678380

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