**3. Business and economic conditions and ethical premises in relation to the healthcare system**

Both economics and ethics propose to determine principles of behaviour in human actions, but while the former's principle aim is the activity of production and distribution of wealth, the latter proposes the universal nature of its principles, which become applicable in any context where human actions develop.

Business and economic theory, since its origins, orients itself to the search for the condition of existence of complex subjects such as enterprises, whose continuity is guaranteed not only by economic and financial balance but also by the degree of compatibility between external systems and the internal components, where human activity covers the nature of centrality more and more [18].

The importance of a functional dialog between ethics and the world of enterprises emerges even if the analysis is incorporated in productive organizations, considering the profound transformations that confer new characteristics and modify traditional structures. It is now an established option to attribute the origins of these changes to two factors: the integration of the markets and technological innovation.

sequential verification implied is not always given to that aim, need—economic activity—satisfaction. Considering the healthcare system reflecting the business world, in fact, it produces goods and services in a quantity and with qualitative characteristics that are so intensely differentiated as to induce, based on their own decisions, the progressive expansion of the scale of needs that run parallel to the markets, influencing behaviour and lifestyle, as well as the

The Institutional Aims of the Public Healthcare System and Its Ethical-Social Action

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For example, the substantial product capacities acquired by the healthcare system are reflected in the employment markets, where, symbolically, the use of advertising tools of persuasion presses the absorption of consumer goods. Accordingly, the enterprises help to dictate the values and attitudes of the consumers, indicating socially accepted behaviors and are able to

But the influence that the economic activity has in the position to exercise may lead to the temptation to tie to its own logic other dimensions, so that, when the recognition of ethical behaviour is missing even in developing corporate decisions, it poses a double risk. On the one hand, one of a corporate systems that is deaf to any other request that is not justifiable by economic convenience, placing itself in this way as a hindrance factor towards the search for modes of government that are fairer, more transparent and compatible in their use of resources; on the other hand, the danger of progressive reaction on the part of social interaction becomes more concrete, which would ultimately lead to the denial of autonomy of business choices, burdening the economic activity and, in the business in particular, of inaccurate

In this last case, reducing the impact of the business activity would ultimately lead to increased external responsibility being assigned to create and distribute socially recognized wealth, subduing the economic aims of requests of a diverse nature and compromising the dynamic role

Finally, beginning with these reflections and considering that the subject Business Administration studies conditions of existence and the manifestations of the life of the business, analysed in their economic dimension, one poses the question how ethical the embedded

In relation to the conditions of existence and to the manifestations of life, ethical principles can alternatively depict either necessary or consistent presumptions with the attainment of economic objectives, or they can represent moral ties in conflict with these aims. In the first case, ethical choices become an ulterior instrument to protect balance in the long run (socalled strategic ethics), and in the second case, the decisions of the government bodies must

The changes that have occurred in the economic context in recent times have been influenced by rapid technological processes and by an increased competitiveness, which has prompted

use of resources.

give a common meaning to human actions [22].

aims as the exclusive search for profit.

requirements or provisos are and the manner of reaction.

be adopted in respect to moral obligations (so-called absolute ethics) [23].

**4. Ethical behaviour as a business asset in the healthcare industry**

carried out until that point.

The business activity, in essence, develops, in the present context, through a complex network of internal and external relationships, which are indispensable in reaching a balance. The effectiveness of these relationships is based on the recognition of corporate governance bodies of other members that with their contribution and sharing of the entrepreneurial project, a decisive contribution to its implementation is conferred [19].

Given their specificity, it deals with relations that emerge based on elements which are not reducible to only a calculation of economic convenience but presuppose reciprocity and trust that only open behaviour, not conditioned by mere speculative objectives, can guarantee.

Entrepreneurial action is qualified, therefore, by the ability to make adequate decisions in this new reality, which fuels the appeal to relationships and ties whose effectiveness cannot be separated from commitments that take shape in an external dimension from the economic sphere.

This reasoning leads to the question that makes the basic query about the compatibility of ethics with the dictates of the economy and, in particular, the enterprise activities even more sensitive today [20].

Looking at the healthcare system and the economy, by virtue of the intense innovation and of the powerful productivity achieved by the businesses of production (i.e. when caring for those in need), which constitute the principle instrument in exercising economic activity, has determined a rapid and intense growth of the wealth produced. The circumstances that have favored this result are multiple and of a diverse nature, for which each summary claims risks compromising the perception of the ample variety of causes that have competed. Here, one cannot neglect to expose at least two motives that together have produced a sharp rise in yields: the notable advantages that are obtained by the division of labour, applied in healthcare systems according to organizational plans oriented towards efficiency and effectiveness, and the constant use of productive factors according the principles of rationality.

The business world, furthermore, is where new basic scientific discoveries find application and where new technological innovations are constantly experimented, in order to transform these investments into better evolved products or services [21].

Together, these elements feed the constant rise of production and the diffusion of goods available for the satisfaction of needs and consequently the increase in the level of wellness.

But it is the great dominating potential of the healthcare system as it carries out activities that allow certain possible distortions to emerge.

This refers to the possibility that the decisions of the corporate bodies, keeping in consideration the force and efficiency acquired by the production systems, end up conditioning the use of resources and the development of social choices.

In fact, the instrument enterprise, organized starting from planning abilities and risk tolerance brought into play by the entrepreneur, is capable, by now, of blurring the satisfaction of needs, traditionally described as the origin of the economic activity. This means that, in reality, the sequential verification implied is not always given to that aim, need—economic activity—satisfaction. Considering the healthcare system reflecting the business world, in fact, it produces goods and services in a quantity and with qualitative characteristics that are so intensely differentiated as to induce, based on their own decisions, the progressive expansion of the scale of needs that run parallel to the markets, influencing behaviour and lifestyle, as well as the use of resources.

established option to attribute the origins of these changes to two factors: the integration of

The business activity, in essence, develops, in the present context, through a complex network of internal and external relationships, which are indispensable in reaching a balance. The effectiveness of these relationships is based on the recognition of corporate governance bodies of other members that with their contribution and sharing of the entrepreneurial project, a

Given their specificity, it deals with relations that emerge based on elements which are not reducible to only a calculation of economic convenience but presuppose reciprocity and trust that only open behaviour, not conditioned by mere speculative objectives, can guarantee.

Entrepreneurial action is qualified, therefore, by the ability to make adequate decisions in this new reality, which fuels the appeal to relationships and ties whose effectiveness cannot be separated from commitments that take shape in an external dimension from the economic sphere. This reasoning leads to the question that makes the basic query about the compatibility of ethics with the dictates of the economy and, in particular, the enterprise activities even more

Looking at the healthcare system and the economy, by virtue of the intense innovation and of the powerful productivity achieved by the businesses of production (i.e. when caring for those in need), which constitute the principle instrument in exercising economic activity, has determined a rapid and intense growth of the wealth produced. The circumstances that have favored this result are multiple and of a diverse nature, for which each summary claims risks compromising the perception of the ample variety of causes that have competed. Here, one cannot neglect to expose at least two motives that together have produced a sharp rise in yields: the notable advantages that are obtained by the division of labour, applied in healthcare systems according to organizational plans oriented towards efficiency and effectiveness,

The business world, furthermore, is where new basic scientific discoveries find application and where new technological innovations are constantly experimented, in order to transform

Together, these elements feed the constant rise of production and the diffusion of goods available for the satisfaction of needs and consequently the increase in the level of wellness.

But it is the great dominating potential of the healthcare system as it carries out activities that

This refers to the possibility that the decisions of the corporate bodies, keeping in consideration the force and efficiency acquired by the production systems, end up conditioning the

In fact, the instrument enterprise, organized starting from planning abilities and risk tolerance brought into play by the entrepreneur, is capable, by now, of blurring the satisfaction of needs, traditionally described as the origin of the economic activity. This means that, in reality, the

and the constant use of productive factors according the principles of rationality.

these investments into better evolved products or services [21].

allow certain possible distortions to emerge.

use of resources and the development of social choices.

the markets and technological innovation.

sensitive today [20].

90 Social Responsibility

decisive contribution to its implementation is conferred [19].

For example, the substantial product capacities acquired by the healthcare system are reflected in the employment markets, where, symbolically, the use of advertising tools of persuasion presses the absorption of consumer goods. Accordingly, the enterprises help to dictate the values and attitudes of the consumers, indicating socially accepted behaviors and are able to give a common meaning to human actions [22].

But the influence that the economic activity has in the position to exercise may lead to the temptation to tie to its own logic other dimensions, so that, when the recognition of ethical behaviour is missing even in developing corporate decisions, it poses a double risk. On the one hand, one of a corporate systems that is deaf to any other request that is not justifiable by economic convenience, placing itself in this way as a hindrance factor towards the search for modes of government that are fairer, more transparent and compatible in their use of resources; on the other hand, the danger of progressive reaction on the part of social interaction becomes more concrete, which would ultimately lead to the denial of autonomy of business choices, burdening the economic activity and, in the business in particular, of inaccurate aims as the exclusive search for profit.

In this last case, reducing the impact of the business activity would ultimately lead to increased external responsibility being assigned to create and distribute socially recognized wealth, subduing the economic aims of requests of a diverse nature and compromising the dynamic role carried out until that point.

Finally, beginning with these reflections and considering that the subject Business Administration studies conditions of existence and the manifestations of the life of the business, analysed in their economic dimension, one poses the question how ethical the embedded requirements or provisos are and the manner of reaction.

In relation to the conditions of existence and to the manifestations of life, ethical principles can alternatively depict either necessary or consistent presumptions with the attainment of economic objectives, or they can represent moral ties in conflict with these aims. In the first case, ethical choices become an ulterior instrument to protect balance in the long run (socalled strategic ethics), and in the second case, the decisions of the government bodies must be adopted in respect to moral obligations (so-called absolute ethics) [23].
