The role of the market in health systems responsiveness
We critically interrogate the current conceptualisation of health systems responsiveness in light of ongoing political, economic, and health system transitions occurring in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and call for a nuanced, contemporaneous, and expanded understanding of the conce...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Critical Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09581596.2025.2519770 |
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| _version_ | 1849421663129567232 |
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| author | Kimberly Lakin Sumit Kane |
| author_facet | Kimberly Lakin Sumit Kane |
| author_sort | Kimberly Lakin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We critically interrogate the current conceptualisation of health systems responsiveness in light of ongoing political, economic, and health system transitions occurring in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and call for a nuanced, contemporaneous, and expanded understanding of the concept. Drawing on key work on health economics and healthcare markets, we unpack the economic and health systems transitions that LMICs have experienced in the last two decades, specifically the shift towards neoliberalism. We discuss the impact of these transitions, particularly, the rapid growth in for-profit care and the covert or outright privatisation of public health services, on health care provision. We critically review the literature on health systems responsiveness to then demonstrate how current analytical frameworks do not yet sufficiently reflect the role of the market in responsive care provision. In light of this, we make a case for explicitly recognising the role of the market logic in both shaping peoples’ expectations of their health systems and the health system’s response to these expectations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2b035bec434b45fdab0f6dcb30fe3f4a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0958-1596 1469-3682 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Critical Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-2b035bec434b45fdab0f6dcb30fe3f4a2025-08-20T03:31:24ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCritical Public Health0958-15961469-36822025-12-0135110.1080/09581596.2025.2519770The role of the market in health systems responsivenessKimberly Lakin0Sumit Kane1Nossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, AustraliaNossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, AustraliaWe critically interrogate the current conceptualisation of health systems responsiveness in light of ongoing political, economic, and health system transitions occurring in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and call for a nuanced, contemporaneous, and expanded understanding of the concept. Drawing on key work on health economics and healthcare markets, we unpack the economic and health systems transitions that LMICs have experienced in the last two decades, specifically the shift towards neoliberalism. We discuss the impact of these transitions, particularly, the rapid growth in for-profit care and the covert or outright privatisation of public health services, on health care provision. We critically review the literature on health systems responsiveness to then demonstrate how current analytical frameworks do not yet sufficiently reflect the role of the market in responsive care provision. In light of this, we make a case for explicitly recognising the role of the market logic in both shaping peoples’ expectations of their health systems and the health system’s response to these expectations.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09581596.2025.2519770Health system responsivenesshealth inequalitieshealth systemslow- and middle-income countries |
| spellingShingle | Kimberly Lakin Sumit Kane The role of the market in health systems responsiveness Critical Public Health Health system responsiveness health inequalities health systems low- and middle-income countries |
| title | The role of the market in health systems responsiveness |
| title_full | The role of the market in health systems responsiveness |
| title_fullStr | The role of the market in health systems responsiveness |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of the market in health systems responsiveness |
| title_short | The role of the market in health systems responsiveness |
| title_sort | role of the market in health systems responsiveness |
| topic | Health system responsiveness health inequalities health systems low- and middle-income countries |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09581596.2025.2519770 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kimberlylakin theroleofthemarketinhealthsystemsresponsiveness AT sumitkane theroleofthemarketinhealthsystemsresponsiveness AT kimberlylakin roleofthemarketinhealthsystemsresponsiveness AT sumitkane roleofthemarketinhealthsystemsresponsiveness |