Challenging health economics / Gavin Mooney.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Mounts a critique of current health economics. Argues that health economics has been too dominated by the economics of health care and has ignored the impact of poverty, inequality, poor housing, and lack of education. Suggests that some of the structural issues of economies, particularly the individualism of neo liberalism, need to be addressed in health economics. Proposes a form of collective decision making through communitarianism, placing value on participation in public life and on institutions such as health care. It is envisaged this form of decision making can be used at the local, national or global levels. This would mean a revamp of institutions like the World Bank and the IMF. Examples of the impact of the new paradigm on health policy in general but also more specifically on priority setting and equity are included.