If society views health care as a social good, what obligation does it have to provide it for all?

• A. A duty to provide it for all
• B. A right to universal access
• C. A responsibility to regulate costs
• D. An entitlement to free care

Answer: (A)

When health care is treated as a social good, the obligation falls on society to provide it for everyone. This view rests on justice and solidarity: health needs affect everyone, and a shared resource should be accessible to all to prevent avoidable harm and to allow all people to participate fully in social life. The emphasis is on the duty of the community or state to ensure provision for all, rather than on individuals having a standalone claim or on policy tools alone. While universal access or free care can be important ways to fulfill this duty, the fundamental idea is that society has a duty to provide health care for all.