Healthcare System in Switzerland - Essay Example

Healthcare System in Switzerland al Affiliation Healthcare System in Switzerland Introduction Healthcare system around the world varies depending on the economic status and government policies. A country that uses an integrated model has a higher responsibility in providing healthcare systems that in acceptable both locally and internationally. The general public concern is a major consideration when designing a healthcare system. The developed nations have system that fit the need of their citizens. The essay will focus on Switzerland’s healthcare system and its effectiveness. The country’s healthcare system will be compared to the affordable healthcare. The aim will be to harmonize the two healthcares and provide proposals that will advance the current healthcare system. A healthcare system consist of the minatory aspect, human labor and the beneficiaries, a successful health system is one that combines the three components in providing an effective healthcare system. Switzerland Healthcare System The healthcare system in Switzerland is different from other healthcare system in that the private sector plays a major role in the government regulate healthcare system. The healthcare insurance system is the duty of the private sector. The current policy allows the citizens to choose a healthcare insurance that feeds their need. The government regulates it to avoid over exploitation. Those who are unable to afford the current premium rates, the government provide subsidies that allow them to access the private insurance system. The government hence sets ceiling to the premiums in an effort ensure the healthcare system is sustainable. According to Bachmann (2012), the employers do not provide insurance to the employees. Thus, it is the duty of the employee to shop for his or her convenient insurance firm and enroll in the mandatory insurance program. The healthcare system provides flexibility in that the government has no socialized system thus allow its citizens to identify and compare rates before deciding on what insurance package to enroll in. The insurance firms are restricted to given cantons. In that, a person should acquire treatment based on his or her location. The healthcare system is decentralized in an effort to reduce unfair competition brought about by larger insurance firms. The decentralization bases itself on accessible healthcare to individuals within a given region. The country allows each canton to provide a universal care system that base on accessibility, affordability and reliability. According to Daley and Gubb (2011), the cantons are used as a means of the government to increase effectiveness. The central government plays an oversight role. The hospitals and other health facilities within a given region work in conjunction with the healthcare insurers to ensure the system is running. The government believes that competition will be effective in ensuring that the healthcare services are affordable. Competition ensures a low cost model aimed at attracting more clients hence pushing the cost of healthcare downwards. The healthcare policy in Switzerland is divided into two major components, the general policy and the universal policy. The general category covers for outpatient and inpatients requiring attention for less than 72 hours (Daley &Gubb, 2011). The government allows canton wards and nursing home to provide the services according to location. The nurses are required to offer nursing services to both inpatients and stay patients. This is a primary precaution with an aim of saving life pending a referral to other health institution. The universal cover implies that it is a criminal offense for any citizen to lack a defined health insurance cover. A fixed premium is set by the government to limit the chances of variations caused by health status of the insured party. The government under the direct subsidies deals with the deficit caused by the economic status of citizens. The cantons are responsible to ensure the available policies are in line with the country’s regulation. Public perception on the policy According to Bachmann (2012), the locals apprenticed the current policy given the fact that they control the nature of cover. The employers on the other hand seem determined by current policy as they reduce their overall cost. In this case, the employees are able to shop for suitable terms and policies and enroll in private insurance firms that offer quality. A number of citizens appreciate the effort kept by government in that the government goes not dictate the types of policy each citizen are enrolled. However, the costs of premiums are likely to rise given a combine policy by the insurance firm to adjust their premiums based on demands. The government sets ceilings but the insurer dictates terms. The effectiveness of the system is visible by the number of patients who have access to a universal healthcare system. Switzerland Health System versus US Policy The policies are similar given the role each government plays to ensure each citizen has a health policy. However, in Switzerland the private sector plays a major role in healthcare provision. In the USA, the private sector is allowed by the government to substantiate the deficit caused by the public healthcare provision. The affordable healthcare act ensures each employer provides his or her employee with a health insurance cover; this is different from the Switzerland policy where the employee is responsible of the employee and any other citizen to shop for policy based on his or her own preference. The unemployed in the affordable act in the USA benefit from government incentives. The private insurance firm are not regulated hence could mean an expensive healthcare system compared to Switzerland. The system however, has its positive given the fact the government and the private sector work together to ensure healthcare is accessible (Daley &Gubb, 2011). This is effective as it provides completion and at the same time limits exploitation by private firms (Emanuel, 2014). Conclusion Comparing the United States healthcare and Switzerland, it is evident there are negatives within these policies. The government should work on harmonizing current policy to ensure health competition. The affordability of the health insurance policy will mean working on modalities that will ensure both employed and unemployed access healthcare. The healthcare system needs adjustment to allow the private sector to provide the much needed insurances cover to the citizens. Those who are unable to pay for the insurance premiums should benefit from government incentive. The government should provide financial assistance to health institution to enable them enhance both outpatient and inpatient services to citizens seeking healthcare services. Reference Bachmann, H. (2012). Switzerland Has Its Own Kind of Obamacare — and Loves It. Nation. Retrieved from http://nation.time.com/2012/08/16/health-insurance-switzerland-has-its-own-kind-of-obamacare-and-loves-it/ Daley, C. & Gubb, J. (2011) Healthcare Systems: Switzerland. Civitas. http://www.civitas.org.uk/nhs/download/switzerland.pdf Emanuel, E. (2014). Reinventing American Health Care: How the Affordable Care Act will Improve our Terribly Complex, Blatantly Unjust, Outrageously Expensive, Grossly Inefficient, Error Prone System. New York: Public Affairs Read More