Health Care Issues in Ireland - Research Paper Example

? Health Care Issues Health Care Issues in Ireland Health care being the most basic requirement of every household is covered by mostof the welfare states of the world, a trend which is specifically followed in the developed world with the exception of a few. Speaking of European States in this context, most of the states rank high in the world health care ranking. However the widespread gap between the public and the private health care spending seems to be the most prevalent issue in these states. Talking specifically about Ireland, though the ranking as compared to other EU members is fine however there are a lot of health care issues in this state. Firstly, there is a large gap between the quality of services for the private health owners and the public health coverage. Secondly, due to the two tiered health care system there are a lot of issues with the medical practitioners as they discriminate between those who pay for health care and those who don`t. Thirdly, Ireland also has a lot of cultural issues with health care which needs to be addressed with some serious consideration. Ireland ranks 22nd on the health care ranking for the developed world, where only US lies behind this state in this context1. This reflects the widespread difference between the quality of coverage provided by the public health care and the private health care. This is indicative of the basic flaw in the system, where there are separate health packages for those who belong to the lower income group and those who fall high in the average income spectrum. In other words, Ireland follows the system where a medical card is issued to those who belong to a lower income group which makes them eligible for a free health care service (Noan & Nolan 2004). However, those who don`t need welfare fund to run their homes, and can afford to pay for health care are required to pay a fees to be eligible for the health care process. This system creates various issues for the entire health care structure operational in Ireland. Firstly, those who avail the free services via their medical cards have to go through extended waiting lines to get themselves checked. In the peak season, for instance when the winter flu breaks, there are cases when people have to wait for three consecutive days for their turn. The quality of service in the public hospitals is so pathetic that the emergency wards, even the lobbies of crowded with patient beds (Noan & Nolan 2004). Though prescriptions are also free for medical card owners, but the quality is quite low. At the same time, those who opt for the private health care are better off as they get treated on the spot and quality services are availed by these patients who have purchased a health care or pay the required fees for the medical checkups2. Secondly, other issues also related with the two tiered system prevalent in Ireland for instance the issue with the medical practitioners discriminating against the patients who avail the medical card for free services. Basically, the flaw lies in the way health care functions in Ireland. Those who are covered under a health care plan are treated in the same public hospitals where other citizens, even those with the medical cards are treated. The system would have worked fine if the doctors were to be paid the same amount of salary by the government regardless of the types of patients they`re dealing with. In fact, it`s the other way round i.e. the medical practitioners are being paid their due amount of salary by the government to treat the patients with the medical cards (Noan & Nolan 2004). However, when it comes to the treatment of those who aren’t relying on the medical card, for their treatment the practitioners are paid on a fee per service basis. This above system mentioned above where practitioners are paid a higher amount for dealing with the private health care patients is the root cause of the health care issues prevailing in Ireland. The practitioners take it more like a business as they have a higher self interest in treating the private patients. There are separate hospital rooms for these patients who can afford a private health care, and the fees they are paying is considerably high. As an average estimate, a onetime visit can cost as high as about 60 pounds3. Though the hospitals are being run by the tax payer’s money and technically all citizens of the state should be entitled to the equal treatment under a subsidized or a government run hospital, but the system makes conditions worse and the lives of those relying on a medical card very difficult when it comes to the health care (Noan & Nolan 2004). Lastly, there are also many cultural issues that Irish hospitals, medical staff and the medical practitioners are facing due to the lack in awareness and the lack in training. The standard of a medical hospital is known by the quality it offers on a transnational level i.e. to the visitors4 Since the international visitors also have to get themselves checked from the public hospitals, they face many cross cultural issues. Also, with a high migration rate, Ireland is becoming a multiracial state with people from various cultures residing in this state. Thus, the medical services should naturally adapt to the changes in the regional diversity. However, unfortunately this is not the case. The changes are too rapid for the Irish health care system to adapt or even to respond to. The most dominant issue out of many others is the way how the medical staff deals with the people from diverse cultures. Usually, these people complain that they are being dealt with in a very alien way which they even find offensive. This indicates that the staff isn’t trained enough to deal with these different kinds of people, and isn’t sensitized about the cultural sensitivities. This creates various implications as people from other cultures are then reluctant in getting themselves treated. Also, in Ireland transgender is also treated in a very discriminatory manner creates a sense of hesitation amongst these people in even contacting a medical service5. However, this will create a cycle of even more health issues in the cycle, as the societal issues are interrelated and even when one segment is unsatisfied especially in terms of health the whole web of the society gets affected. Thus, conclusively Irish government has allocated a very low percentage of funds for health care which has incorporated flaws in the Irish health care system at various levels. The two tiered system creates a discriminatory attitude of the medical practitioners against those who get free medical systems via medical cards, as those who pay a fees get a better treatment. Similarly, those who avail free treatments also have to go through never ending waiting lines which is the main issue for the lower income class in Ireland. Lastly, there are many cultural barriers which need to be overcome when it comes to the health care practices in Ireland. When compared with the other European Union states, Ireland ranks low in the spectrum which is indicative of the incompetitiveness of their health care system, which is further infiltrated at all levels creating various issues for especially those citizens who rely on welfare for a living. Reference Nolan , Anne and Nolan, Brian "Ireland's health care system : some issues and challenges." Research paper. 2004-11. Social Economic Review: Healthcare. policy report. Ireland, 2011. "An Overview of the Irish Health System." Move to Ireland Free Site. Web. 22 Apr. 2012. . ""Irelanda??s Health Care System: Some Issues and Challenges"" "Irelanda??s Health Care System: Some Issues and Challenges" Web. 22 Apr. 2012. . Read More