The UK Healthcare System - Essay Example

Compare and contrast the UK healthcare system with that of ONE country of your choice Introduction Different countries have different health systems. The nature and quality of health in a country are largely determined by the country’s economic position and government structure. Additionally, social constructions of communities living in a country influence development of the health system. Essentially, the health system in a country is influenced by the political, economic and cultural factors (Gillies, 2003). The cultural dimensions of the communities and classes of people living in a country bear significant influence on the health system developed. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the similarities and differences between the United Kingdom health system and that of the United States. Both the UK and the USA are wealthy nations, and they are expected to have the best health systems in the world. In both countries, the government is centrally involved in the provision of health care services. Actually, both countries have diversified their health systems such that public and private hospitals are involved in provision health services. In both countries, the government regulates the standards of health and ensure that all public health institutions are well equipped. The population health for both countries lags behind those of countries such as Sweden and Japan. In essence, the health systems of booth the UK and the USA require continued development. Both the United States and the United Kingdom health systems recognize health insurance. In fact, in both countries, the issues of health/medical insurance has been emphasized in the aid to improve the quality of health and reliability of medical services. According to Nyman (2003), it is important to note that medical/health insurance plays a significant role in ensuring that people can access medical services even in times of financial challenges. Though the health insurance policies and structure for the two countries differ, both governments have established measures to ensure that at least each family is covered. Essentially, an individual’s health condition is uncertain over time and, therefore, there is the need to take a health insurance cover. In both countries, the government partners with private investors to offer health services to residents. Additionally, the governments monitor the standards of health in the various health care providing institution. The governments of both countries ensure that doctors and nurses are qualified to offer medical services to patients. Essentially, regular checkups are done in all health institutions to ensure that the established standards are always maintained. Despite the many similarities, there exist several differences between the health systems in both countries. For instance, the United States spends over 10% of the GDP on health care (Shi & Singh, 2010). On the other hand, the UK spends less than 8% of the gross domestic product on health care. Essentially, analysis of the expenses incurred in health care depicts that the United Sates has spends almost twice of the amount spent by the UK. The dissatisfaction with the health care system is more in the United States than in the UK. Research has shown that the number of healthcare dissatisfaction complaints raised in the United Kingdom are less than those raised in the United States. In essence, the equality in health care provisions differs in the two countries. For instance about forty-five million of the American nationals below the age of sixty-five are not covered under the health insurance. On the contrary, most people below the age of sixty-five years are covered by various health insurance covers. In addition, access to health care services in the United States in more costly than in the United Kingdom. A recent research conducted in five nations including the United States and the united kingdom showed that the United Kingdom offered better healthcare services to its citizens than the United States; however, waiting hours were longer in the United kingdom’s health system than in the United States. The United States lacks a uniform medical plan to cover the whole population, unlike the United Kingdom which has the National Health Service. Actually, taking a health insurance cover in the United States is a personal responsibility that is not influenced by the government. In most cases, people receive medical attention from private hospitals and doctors in the United States unlike in the United Kingdom where most people seek medical care from public health institutions. In the United Kingdom, one is required to register with a general practitioner to access medical services. On the contrary, the United States health care system does not require an individual to register with a general practitioner; instead, one can just contact a doctor’s office to request an appointment. Generally, the United Kingdom’s government is more involved in the health care services that the United States government. A critical analysis of the health care systems in the two countries depicts that the poor people are well catered for in terms of health service in the UK than in the USA. It is imperative to recognize that private hospitals and doctors are usually more expensive than the public hospitals. In this regard, in a country where more emphasis is put on the public hospitals, health care services are relatively cheaper compared to a country where more concern is placed on private hospitals. In most cases, public hospitals and other health institutions charge uniform prices for the services rendered. On the contrary, private hospitals charge varied prices, thereby making accesses to health relatively expensive. Conclusion The health system of a country is influenced by several factors. The developed nations have outstanding health systems that the developing nations envy to have. There exist many similarities and differences between the UK’s health system and the US’s health system. An assessment of the health systems of the UK and the US shows that both the government and the private investors must join hands in developing effective health systems. However, the UK health system is more effective than of the US in terms of cost and satisfaction of the citizens. Basically, health insurance covers are important for quality health services. In this regard, it is imperative for governments of other nations to develop effective health insurance plans to enhance quality medical attention. All human beings deserve quality treatment irrespective of their financial position. In this regard, governments of the world should develop strategies that promote equality in the provision of health care services. Reference list: Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2010). Essentials of the U.S. health care system. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Gillies, A. (2003). What makes a good healthcare system?: Comparisons, values, drivers. Abingdon: Radcliffe Medical Press. Nyman, J. A. (2003). The theory of demand for health insurance. Stanford, Calif: Stanford Economics and Finance. Read More