Equity and distributive justice in European health care reform

Equity is a central objective of most European health care systems, yet equity, particularly in the form of distributive justice, has not been a central objective of many recent health sector reforms. This article considers three aspects of the relationship between equity and recent health reforms. After defining what is meant by equity in the health sector, the author briefly examines available evidence on present levels of equality then discusses the equity implications of ongoing reforms in European health care systems.