Health System in UAE vs. Germany - Case Study Example

Title: Health system in UAE vs. Germany Student Name: Tutor: Institution: Submission Date: Abstract This paper provides an account of the healthcare systems of the United Arab Emirates and Germany. It gives a critical analysis of the situation in UAE in comparison with in the German republic. In Germany, healthcare insurance is generally compulsory while the UAE’s healthcare system does not obligate healthcare insurance. In terms of governance, strategy and performance, the healthcare systems in the discussed countries have illustrated how the government has a role in healthcare system. However, the paper highlights how the private sectors have also been shown to play a major role. Provision of quality healthcare service is the aim of every healthcare system. Some problems facing the system of healthcare have been depicted and how they can be resolved. Table of Contents Abstract 2 Table of Contents 3 Health system in UAE vs. Germany 3 Introduction 3 Governance, Strategy, Organization and Performance 6 Issues 10 Discussion 10 Way Forward 11 Conclusion 11 Bibliography 12 Health system in UAE vs. Germany Introduction A healthcare system entails the organization of institutions, people, and resources to provide services of healthcare to fulfil the wellbeing and requirements of a given population. There is a broad range of health systems all over the globe, with as lots of organizational structures and histories as there are countries. In a couple of countries, planning of health system is distributed among participants of the market (Busse, et al, 2012). In others, intensive effort among trade unions, governments, religious, charities, or organized bodies are there to provide planned services of health care targeted to the populace they serve. On the other hand, planning of health care has been portrayed as often evolutionary instead of revolutionary. This paper aims at comparing the health system in UAE and health system in Germany. Description Healthcare standards are regarded as normally high within the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as a result of improved government spending in the powerful economic years (Castro, 2009). Currently, health care is free for UAE citizens only. The doctors’ number per 100,000 is 181 and 78.5 years is the life expectancy at birth within the UAE. According to the statistics provided by the WHO, the UAE is positioned 44 globally with respect to health care. The major cause of death within the UAE is the circulatory system diseases, comprising 38% of entire deaths; other principal causes are cardiovascular diseases, malignancies, accidents and injuries, and congenital anomalies. Total population 83,302,000 Gross national income per capita (PPP international $) 38,100 Life expectancy at birth m/f (years) 78/83 Probability of dying under five (per 1000 live births) 4 Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1000 population) 99/53 Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2010) 4,332 Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2010) 11.6 Presently, the UAE has forty public hospitals, unlike only 7 during 1970s. The health ministry is undertaking a program that is multimillion-dollar to enlarge facilities of health and hospitals, medical centres, and a centre of trauma within the 7 emirates (Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, 2012). In order to attract wealthy UAE citizens and emigrants who conventionally have travelled overseas for serious health care, Dubai has developed Dubai Healthcare City, a free zone hospital that offers worldwide-standard superior private medical care and offers an academic health training centre; completed in 2010(Castro, 2009). The Germany’s Federal Republic institutes 16 states, namely Lander or Bund slander. Germany is said to have the leading population density of around 83,302,000 in the European Union (EU). In 2005 December, the doctors’ number was 373 for every 100, 000 citizens. Healthcare is financed by a constitutional contribution system that guarantees free healthcare for everyone through sickness resources. Insurance payments are grounded on a fraction of income, divided amid employer and employee. In Germany, healthcare insurance is divided between private and statutory schemes. The constitutional health insurance, referred to as GesetzlicheKrankenversicherung (GKV), takes a major position in the system of healthcare in the Germany’s federal republic (Busse, et al, 2012). Approximately 90 percent of the populace are under the statutory health cover which is obligatory for everyone who earn not more than 3862, 50 € before tax in 2004. Private healthcare systems can either grant to complete medical service for those who avoid GKV or to-up insurance for those who remain in it Leading death causes in UAE Abu Dhabi Leading Death Causes in UAE Governance, Strategy, Organization and Performance The UAE’s health services are globally recognized. The healthcare system in UAE particularly in Dubai has excellent quality and similar to other developed nations. Hospitals, which pride themselves on their up to date facilities, are located strategically to guarantee accessibility (Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, 2012). There are nearly twenty hospitals and clinics distributed all over Emirate. The hospitals/clinics to patient ratio 1:78,000. There are no compulsory state or employer contribution cover schemes in Dubai. Public health care in the UAE is run by the ministry of health. It offers free or generally low cost health services for residents in the UAE. Private medical care providers are also available in the UAE. A great deal of the medical practitioners is foreign medical experts educated in their home countries. A lot of them come from India, Pakistan, Egypt, Europe, and USA. Their aptitudes are cautiously verified prior to practice medical care in UAE (Rasheed, 2011). The principal strategy is to offer care that is patient-specific. The most common health services offered by providers of health care in Dubai include and not limited to: vaccinations and immunizations, medical fitness, psychiatric management, and nutrition and health education. In Dubai, one good practice of health professional is the private medical calls that are post-clinic which is regarded as element of their tasks (Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, 2012). Every person is equally given appropriate health attention despite the nationality and residency. Medical care insurance is not obligatory for every employer in UAE, unlike Germany where medical care insurance is compulsory for employers and employees. Public hospitals in the UAE provide the leading figure of surgical procedures. On the other hand, private health cover in Dubai does not have provision to permit procedures to be carried out in public hospitals hence they go to private medical practitioners in order to avoid paying for the medical procedure (Rasheed, 2011). Every type of advanced health management is available in UAE, particularly Dubai, including organ transplants, heart surgery, and laser treatment. The UAE has connections with various external health organizations like the UK’s Royal College of Surgeons (Rasheed, 2011). These connections have facilitated the growth of excellent domestic training centres for doctors and nursing personnel in UAE. Hospitals that are run by the government in Dubai include Rashid Hospital, Dubai Hospital, Al Wasl Hospital, and Maktoum Hospital. Dubai Hospital is recognized for its provision of general healthcare in the area, while Al Wasl provides an excellent Gynaecology, Maternity, and Paediatrics services (Rasheed, 2011). Private hospitals in UAE, specifically in Dubai include the Welcare Hospital and the American Hospital. The American Hospital is the primary hospital within the region to have obtained certification from the Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) in the United States, and actually all of its doctors have acknowledged qualifications from western countries including the US (Attal& University of Salford, 2009). The hospital covers facilities of excellence in joint replacement, cardiac and diabetes management. Likewise, the Welcare hospital is well staffed by globally qualified and skilled healthcare experts. Germany: From 2009, health cover has been compulsory for every citizen and permanent resident. It is offered by competing, non-profit, nongovernmental medical cover funds referred to as sickness funds within the statutory health insurance scheme (SHI), or by voluntary substitutive private health insurance (PHI)(Federal Ministry of Health, 2012). Government own majority of university hospitals, whereas municipalities have a role in activities in public health and own almost partially of hospital beds. Nevertheless, the different governments’ level has practically no responsibility in the direct provision of health care. A great extent of regulation is assigned to the self-governing entities of the provider associations and sickness funds. The most significant body, instituted in 2004, is the Federal Joint Committee (FJC) (Federal Statistical Office, 2011). Coverage is general for every legal resident. Nearly 85% of the populace is insured by SHI and 10% by substitutive PHI. Policemen and soldiers are insured under special programs. SHI insures in and outpatient hospital management, preventive services, mental health care, physician services, dental care, among others (Busse, et al, 2012). There is a yearly cap on cost-sharing similar to 2% of family income, for adults. With respect to health care that is publicly financed, in 2010, SHI expenditure comprised of 57.6% of entire health spending (Federal Statistical Office, 2011). Sickness funds are independent, nongovernmental bodies financed by obligatory contributions levied as a proportion of gross incomes equal to a ceiling. From 2009, a consistent rate of contribution has been laid down by the government. In the health care that is privately financed, there were forty three PHI organizations in 2010, twenty four of which were for-profit and non-profit organizations were nineteen. General practitioners (GP) and experts in ambulatory management offices are by regulation compulsory members of regional organizations. Regional organizations negotiate agreements with the sickness finances, are accountable for care organization, and serve as financial intermediaries. The sixteen state governments establish capacity of the hospital, while capacity for ambulatory care is subject to assigned decision making in accordance with the rules laid down by the FJC (Federal Association of SHI Physicians, 2011). Quality of management is addressed via a variety of practices generally determined by law, and in greatly by the FJC. Structural quality is guaranteed by the need that providers possess a quality system of management, by the condition that every physician continues their health education, and by health expertise assessments for procedures and drugs. Strategies to decrease medical disparities are principally assigned to services of public health, and the extents at which they are executed vary across the state (Federal Statistical Office, 2011). Issues In Germany, hardly one legislative phase passes lacking some outstanding regulatory transformation within the system of healthcare. The government is faced with increasing expenses of maintaining health of inhabitants because of demographic adjustments and health progress. Regardless of the principal reforms, the general expense of Germany’s healthcare has been outgrowing the financing ground for a couple of time and is greatly relying on the employment market condition (Federal Ministry of Health, 2012). The basic challenge of the way to fund the system of healthcare in the coming years sustainably prevails unclear. In its current arrangement, the system of healthcare in Germany implies critical governance and structural flaws which ought to be improved. Countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region experience various healthcare problems by virtue of their exceptional economic and social circumstances (Dubai School of Government & Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research, 2010). Nonetheless, the state is unified in the increasing concern on increased healthcare demand, rising costs in healthcare and the escalating prevalence of lifestyle illnesses. The challenges have resulted to higher demand for vastly trained and flexible healthcare workers that constantly update their skills and knowledge to fulfil arising healthcare requirements. Discussion Regardless of the key reforms, the Germany’s healthcare system does not have a firm funding foundation taking account of medical, demographic growths, and technical progress (Federal Association of Sickness Funds, 2012). Yet, funding the constitutional health cover system is reliant on the incomes’ level. The introduction of a person’s extra rate of contribution has not adequately altered the situation. With regards to the UAE, to deal with problems of high demand and increasing costs, a couple of governments are shifting from the traditional regional approach of state-funded and –provided medical care to alternative approaches of financing and provision of care; health cover and private healthcare (Rasheed, 2011). Way Forward The healthcare system in Germany is in need of essential reform in order to be able to sufficiently fulfil the massive challenges of health and demography and practical progress at the end(Federal Association of Sickness Funds, 2012). A financial reorganization of the constitutional medical insurance ought to focus on decoupling cost of healthcare as well as labour cost. This can be accomplished by converting contribution of employer to salary. Hence, allowing for higher personal responsibility. In the UAE, healthcare professionals need to be conversant with the cultural issues in the GCC regions in order to provide effective healthcare (Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, 2012). Conclusion In general, the UAE has an inclusive, state-funded health service and a speedily growing private health division that provides an excellent quality of health management to the citizens. Germany’s healthcare is also funded by the public and private sectors. Public policy concentrates on developing legal and organizational frameworks grounded on best practice in order to improve the public and private sector medical service capabilities. Additionally, the action of public policy will lay down priorities for medical services growth in the sector. Unlike the healthcare system in UAE, the Germany system of healthcare appreciates healthcare insurance. Public healthcare in the UAE is considerably affordable. Bibliography Attal, ZZ.,& University of Salford, 2009, Factors affecting the implementation of joint commission international standards in United Arab Emirates hospitals, University of Salford. Busse, R., et al, 2012, “Germany: Health System Review,” Health Systems in Transition. Castro, JM, 2009, Health Care in Dubai, Retrieved on 6 March, 2013 from:http://www.expatforum.com/articles/health/health-care-in-dubai.html Dubai School of Government & Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research, 2010, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Healthcare Challenges in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, 2012, Health Care, Retrieved on 6 March, 2013 from: http://www.uae-embassy.org/uae/health-care Federal Ministry of Health (BundesministeriumfürGesundheit), 2012, Daten des Gesundheitswesens 2012, Retrieved on 6 March, 2013 from: http://www.bmg.bund.de Federal Association of Sickness Funds (GKV Spitzenverband), 2012, Kennzahlen der gesetzlichenKrankenversicherung, Retrieved on 6 March, 2013 from:http://www.gkv-spitzenverband.de Federal Association of SHI Physicians (KassenärztlicheBundesvereinigung), 2011, GrunddatenzurvertragsärztlichenVersorgung 2011, Retrieved on 6 March, 2013 from:http://www.kbv.de. Federal Statistical Office (StatistischesBundesamt), 2011, Gesundheitsberichterstattung des Bundes, Retrieved on 6 March, 2013 from: http://www.gbe-bund.de. Rasheed, A, 2011, UAE health care services are in decline, gulfnews.com, Retrieved on 6 March, 2013 from: http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/uae-health-care-services-are-in-decline-1.848131 Germany statistics for 2009. Source: World Health Organization, 2013, Retrieved on 18 March, 2013 from http://www.who.int/countries/deu/en/. Source: Health Authority-Abu Dhabi, 2012, Health Statistics 2011. Read More