Last update:
24-Jul-2013

In the area of health care and particularly pharmaceutical care moral judgments are directly related to socio-economic and demographic factors. Health care professionals are obliged to work in an extremely complex environment and their decisions will be shaped not only by their Code of Ethics, but also by other parameters such as their individual culture and their "moral imagination". Cultivation of the moral aspect is required and the subsequent drawing upon the so-called "moral imagination" will allow health professionals to distance themselves from the "typical" standards and grow closer to more substantial moral considerations; otherwise they are in serious danger of adopting preconceived models of thinking and unrealistic standards. Society today is facing a series of challenges, including the recent economic crisis that has led to a decrease in income, an increase in unemployment, especially for women and young people, and a rise in the overall costs in the health area. Especially concerning pharmaceutical care, many patients find it difficult to cover the cost of their medication, which may result in the deterioration of their health, with frequent visits to the emergency services, symptoms of anxiety and sleep disorders and even hospitalization in psychiatric clinics. The public health sector is having difficulty coping with the demands of society, which leads to poorer access of a large sector of the population to less than satisfactory health care, due to socio-economic difficulties, and to false promises of social justice from the state.

Key words: Health care professionals, Moral imagination, Pharmaceutical ethics, Socio-economic crisis.