TY - JOUR

T1 - Policies for Social and Health Equity: The Case for Equity Sensitive Universalism; Comment on "Implementing Universal and Targeted Policies for Health Equity: Lessons From Australia"

AU - Mead, Rebecca

AU - Pickin, Chrissie

AU - Popay, Jennie

PY - 2022/12/31

Y1 - 2022/12/31

N2 - This commentary reflects on an important article by Fisher and colleagues who draw on four Australian policy case studies to examine how universal and targeted approaches or a combination can be deployed to improve health equity. They conclude that Universal approaches are central to action to increase health equity, but that targeting can improve equity of access in some situations including in the context of proportionate universalism. However, we argue that although target services may provide benefits for some populations, they are often stigmatizing and fail to reach may people they aim to support. Instead of accepting the dominant discourse about the key role for targeted approaches, we argue that those committed to reduce social and health inequities should consider the potential of Equity Sensitive Universalism (ESU). This approach focuses on achieving proportionate outcomes with equally provided resources rather than proportionate inputs and provides a ‘cohesion dividend’, increasing social solidarity.

AB - This commentary reflects on an important article by Fisher and colleagues who draw on four Australian policy case studies to examine how universal and targeted approaches or a combination can be deployed to improve health equity. They conclude that Universal approaches are central to action to increase health equity, but that targeting can improve equity of access in some situations including in the context of proportionate universalism. However, we argue that although target services may provide benefits for some populations, they are often stigmatizing and fail to reach may people they aim to support. Instead of accepting the dominant discourse about the key role for targeted approaches, we argue that those committed to reduce social and health inequities should consider the potential of Equity Sensitive Universalism (ESU). This approach focuses on achieving proportionate outcomes with equally provided resources rather than proportionate inputs and provides a ‘cohesion dividend’, increasing social solidarity.

KW - Universalism

KW - Targeting

KW - Social Dividend

KW - Health Equity

KW - Stigma

U2 - 10.34172/ijhpm.2022.7573

DO - 10.34172/ijhpm.2022.7573

M3 - Journal article

VL - 11

SP - 3151

EP - 3154

JO - International Journal of Health Policy and Management

JF - International Journal of Health Policy and Management

SN - 2322-5939

IS - 12

ER -