Through the NEED initiative, we identify unmet health needs to bring them to the attention of healthcare professionals, policymakers and other stakeholders. However, in a context of limited financial resources and a shortage of healthcare professionals, it is impossible to address all needs at once. How do we determine which needs should be prioritised, and how can we make these choices in an ethically responsible way?
The research team used an existing ethical-philosophical framework to assess the NEED framework criteria based on their importance for people's ability to lead their lives as they wish and pursue their goals. Needs that undermine this ability deserve particular attention.
The ethical analysis does not automatically result in a ranking, but, combined with other considerations such as impact and feasibility, it provides guidance for more transparent and better-informed prioritisation.
The full publication is available here.
