WHAT WOULD A SOCIALIST HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM LOOK LIKE - A SKETCH

In this paper I argue that, since institutions must reflect the societ ies in which they are placed, a socialist health-care system cannot be understood unless democratic socialism-which would assure all of basi c necessities of existence, full education and health-care to all memb ers of the community-is not incompatible with a flourishing market for other products. In contrasting single with multiple tiered health car e systems, I suggest that a single tiered system in which all have equ al access to health care and none can buy more, is most consistent wit h the ideals of democratic socialism. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, L td.