Abstract
In Norway, priority for health interventions is assigned on the basis of three official criteria: health benefit, resources, and severity. Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have mainly happened through intersectoral public health efforts such as lockdowns, quarantines, information campaigns, social distancing and, more recently, vaccine distribution. The aim of this article is to evaluate potential priority setting criteria for public health interventions. We argue in favour of the following three criteria for public health priority setting: benefit, resources and improving the well-being of the worse off. We argue that benefits and priority to the worse off may reasonably be understood in terms of individual well-being, rather than only health, for public health priority setting. We argue that lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic support our conclusions. Keywords: COVID-19, Prioritarianism, Priority Setting, Public Health, Severity
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic has strained health care systems worldwide
We argue that there are relevant differences between public health and conventional priority setting that speak against excluding non-health benefits and burdens in public health
We argue in favour of the following three criteria for public health priority setting: benefit, resources, and priority to the worse-off groups in terms of individual well-being
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has strained health care systems worldwide. As of November 2021, there have been more than 240 million confirmed cases, and the number of deaths attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus has exceeded five million (WHO 2021). The pandemic would have claimed an even greater number of lives throughout the world. In Norway, as in many other countries, preventing the uncontrolled spread of the virus has been prioritised by adopting extensive preventive measures. These preventive measures have significantly impacted the well-being of individuals whose lives have been restrained.
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