[Allocation of scarce resources: ethical criteria for equity in healthcare access.]

There are many ethical questions emerging with respect to choices at the level of macro-distribution (decisions on how much to invest in healthcare and how to distribute in the various sectors) and micro-distribution (to whom to distribute limited resources, not available to all who need them). In the context of the current pluralist discussion, there are several possible ethical answers to the distributive questions on the theoretical and practical level. The paper critically analyzes the assumptions and implications of libertarian and utilitarian theories, and argue in favor of the egalitarian, communitarian and personalist perspective. Based on the critical analysis, it is underlined that the lesson learned from the pandemic has highlighted both the importance of the links of micro-allocation to macro-allocation, and the importance of the universalist healthcare system based on dignity humanity and the common good for the concrete safeguarding of the principles of inclusiveness and non-discrimination. In this perspective, the recent Guidelines approved by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe are of particular interest, underlining the basic need for equitable access to health for all and the need for strategies of preparation, transparency, inclusiveness and non-discrimination.