SONGSOPTOK
INTERVIEW ALICJA
HEALTHCARE – A
RIGHT OR A PRIVILEGE?
SONGSOPTOK: Do you consider primary healthcare
to be a fundamental right? Is it deemed as such in the society you live in?
Please explain your answer with a few examples if possible.
ALICJA KUBERSKA: Healthcare is a fundamental
right in my country. Everyone, who works, pays taxes so it is possible to
devote some money to this aim.
SONGSOPTOK: What is the
system of healthcare in the country and the society you live in? Is it a just
and equitable system in the sense that all citizens enjoy the same benefits
across economic and social classes?
ALICJA KUBERSKA: I think that it is not
possible in Poland. The rich are able to profit from medical care of private
hospitals.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think that free healthcare cannot be a right, but
it can be a privilege and a shared burden of sacrifice for the sake of the
social contract?
ALICJA KUBERSKA: It is immoral not to help
ill people. The poverty should not mean the capital penalty in the case of the serious
illness.
SONGSOPTOK: What, in your opinion, should be the role of the
government for ensuring equal healthcare to all citizens? What role is played
by the government of the country you live in?
ALICJA KUBERSKA: Everything is based on money
and law. The government should take care about every citizen. It means - good
law and the proper administration is needed.
SONGSOPTOK: According to the data published by World Health
Organization (WHO), nearly 16 000 children under the age of 5 die every day in
the world (5.9 million in 2015) from infectious, neonatal or nutritional
conditions. Is this a reality in the country you live in? If so, what would
your suggestions of improvement be?
ALICJA KUBERSKA: It is not reality in my
country
SONGSOPTOK: “Free access to healthcare is a fundamental human right.
Access to free healthcare is not” – do you agree with this statement? Please
explain your choice.
ALICJA KUBERSKA: I agree
SONGSOPTOK: How important is the role of the private sector for
providing healthcare and related facilities in your country? What it is your
opinion about it?
ALICJA KUBERSKA: Money rules the world.
SONGSOPTOK: Are charitable and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO)
active in the domain of public health? If yes, then in what spheres? Do you
think that the civil society, either independently or through these
organizations, should become the prime actor for ensuring healthcare for all?
ALICJA KUBERSKA: They are not active here.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think that multinational pharmaceutical and
healthcare companies are responsible, to a certain extent, for the widely
variable quality of healthcare in different countries? Can you please
illustrate your reply with some examples?
ALICJA KUBERSKA: The companies concerned with healthcare are interested mainly in
incomes. They want to sell medicines. The patients are their customers.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think that adopting the Social Security model
implemented in a lot of countries in Europe which ensures primary health
coverage to all citizens and is financed by the totality of the working
population can be relevant and efficient in all countries?
ALICJA KUBERSKA: Of course
ALICJA KUBERSKA FROM POLAND, AGE 56
We sincerely thank you
for your time and hope we shall have your continued support.
Aparajita
Sen
(Editor:
Songsoptok)
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