Health and medical care rates vary in different countries. Health care with insurance also is pretty high in some while some nations offer high-quality and affordable health care. These facilities are often funded by the government and are available to almost 90% of the citizens. As per the World Health Organization, half of the world’s population lack the healthcare facilities they should be provided. To overcome this shortcoming, many countries have implemented universal healthcare systems.
Universal Healthcare systems are government regulated. They ensure high-quality healthcare services are provided at affordable rates. They don’t inflict financial hardship on the patient. These systems provide meager cost or at times, even completely free health care services.
Multiple countries have implemented these healthcare policies.
The U.K has entirely free health care services. Public facilities that are owned by the government provide these services.
South Korea has one of the best healthcare systems among the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries.
Brazil stands as a model for universal healthcare. It provides immediate and free medical care to citizens, tourists, refugees, and undocumented immigrants. They provide all types of healthcare. Either primary care, surgeries, or prescribed medications.
Germany has government funds that pay for services from private hospitals and doctors.
List of countries that provide Universal Health Care – 2022
- Australia
- Brazil
- Belgium
- Canada
- China
- Denmark
- Egypt
- France
- Finland
- Georgia
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- North Korea
- Portugal
- South Korea
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
Benefits of a universal health care system
- Reduces overall health care costs: The government handles the prices through regulation and negotiation.
- Reduces administrative costs: Doctors deal only with government agencies.
- High standard service: Competitive governments thrive best to offer the best quality health care services. They enable this by offering the newest technology. They provide expensive services and have higher pay for medical staff. A universal system ignores the profit motive and emphasis providing equal care for all.
- Leads to a healthier community: preventive care and timely check-ups reduce the need for expensive surgeries and complex procedures.
- Avoids future health and social costs: Preventive health care can avoid future health issues. It can also improve outcomes in the most vulnerable communities.
- Guides the population toward healthier choices: Better investment in health care, public education, and health infrastructure can help divert the population toward more nutritious choices and lifestyles.