Imposed Consumerism in Health Care: A Recent Trend

Abstract

This paper seeks to discuss the trend of utilization of health care services in a paradigm where the patient is supposed to be a consumer of health care services. The factors responsible for over-utilization of healthcare resources without free choice of the consumers (patients) and their effect have been critically analyzed. The free choice of the patient may turn into imposed and biased choice while being played among various inter-related factors. The erroneous trend of irrational and imposed over-utilization of resources without a free choice called ‘imposed consumerism’ needs to be regulated for the sake of health and economic stability of the society.

Keywords: Imposed Consumerism, Free choice, Health care