The Right to Health and Resource Allocation. Who Gets What and Why in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak has led to a worldwide, substantial increase in the demand for pharmaceuticals, hospital beds, ventilators, and medical supplies. When needs suddenly exceed demand worldwide, resources may quickly become scarce with potential demand, so that strict rationing is the only viable response. Against this backdrop, this chapter scrutinizes the rationales for the prioritization of scarce resources. It questions the essential role and reaches the market concerning resources essential to delivering health care, especially in severe shortages, such as during a global pandemic.