The future of health care demand in developed countries: From the “right to treatment” to the “duty to stay healthy”

The aim of this article is to identify the main tipping points likely to have an impact on health care demand in developed countries. The article is based on several exchanges between health care experts within the framework of a working group coordinated by the authors. This article argues that there is a possibility of change in the determinants of health care demand in developed countries. Over the medium and long-term, health care demand might no longer be expressed mostly by patients asserting their right to treatment. Instead it will be motivated more by the duty of each citizen to do everything possible to stay healthy. This transition from a “right” to a “duty” is a logical extension of various movements already observed in the health care sector.