Introduction
The health care system of French gained publicity after it received ranking of number one by World Health organization in the year 2000. It is one of the best health care systems in the world offering the best public health services. Health care in France is a priority in the government and the government has invested in the health care system of France to ensure it delivers quality service to its patients. The government has a big role to play in the health care of France. The government’s role is to provide a legal framework where health care policies rest upon.
Type of Health Care System
The French health care system consists of a fully integrated network of private hospitals, public hospitals, medical service providers and doctors. French system of health care provides universal service for every citizen regardless of his or her age, wealth, social status and gender (Matcha, 2013). The French government recognizes that for any progress to happen in the nation, the citizens must have health. The health care system in France is very simple to the users because everyone who is working and living in France or he/she is a pensioner or dependent on someone working or living in France has access to health care.
Access of health Care to the individual patient
The individual patients in France have access to either private or public care. The government of France provides a health cover called Governments Assurance Maladie. People have the option of having a private insurance called Mutuelle provided the employer of acquired privately from the market (Gusmano et al., 2010). Private insurance market thrives in France because of the publicity it receives. There is transparency in the health care system of France because it is a legal requirement that the government sets.
Cost to the Individual Patient
The government of France has made health care in France affordable. It cost shares with the patients through the national insurance. The French government has set prices that they consider fair prices that will allow everyone to have access of health regardless of the financial status. The government has more bargaining power in health care because it has the mandate of setting prices that will not discriminate. The French government controls the price. Specialists charge higher fees in France but the government has special rates for them but they add special tariffs higher than the ones specified by the government (Johnson & Stoskopf, 2010). In cases like these, the patients will receive reimbursement in accordance to the standard rate or if their insurance provider has such facility, they will receive higher rates. Most specialists divide their time between their own work, hospital work and consultancy work. They receive payments from the patients and receive reimbursement from the state health insurance cover.
Limitations to care in France
French health care system faces a challenge of health insurance. The French health insurance program has challenges and now relies on funds from the state budget. The explosion of health care costs and an ageing population because of the development of new medicines and processes leads to strains to the system. The reimbursement rates have reduced making it difficult for patients to access care ('Health Care France | French Health Care | Health Care in France', 2010). Some contributions have increased and this result too many complains because of the rise in costs.
Cost effectiveness
France displays that it is possible to give the citizens universal health care of the highest quality. The delivery of universal health care in France happens with a broad freedom of the primary care doctors with least restrictions. The patients can choose the treatments they think they are appropriate. The French health care has some cost saving features. France has a lost cost method of administering medical payment system. France does not have a full single payer system. French spends fewer funds in marketing and administration of health care. French also saves costs through bargaining with doctors, pharmaceutical companies and hospitals. Medical malpractice is an area that France saves cost through establishment of an out of court system to settle malpractices cases.
Patient satisfaction
The French hospitals aim at increasing patient satisfaction. Most hospitals invest in systems that ensure they get the feedback from the patients to ensure that they continue improving their service. The use of recent technology and reduction in the overall administrative and operational costs bring satisfaction to the patients (nhs.uk, 2014). Technology allows both private and public hospitals to store the records of patients electronically. Technology facilitates easy retrieval of information. Use of modern equipment improves the standards of care and this increases patient satisfaction. Quality of care determines the satisfaction levels of the patient.
Primary versus Specialist care
The French receive primary care provided by more than 23, 000 médecins generalists (General Practitioners). Most of the general practitioners work as self-employed professionals (Rodwin, 2008). The citizens have the freedom of choosing a general practitioner they want as their personal doctor. Patients pay a flat rate fee when they visit a general practitioner. There are many specialists in all the branches of medicine distributed throughout the vast France. The specialists are expensive because they charge more than the general practitioners do. Reimbursement happens if a general practitioner refers the patient to a specialist (about-france.com, 2014). However, the patients may visit the specialist if they have the ability to pay and are willing to receive reimbursement at basic general practitioner rate.
Sustainability of the system
The French health care system has central coordination by the Ministry of Health but administration happens through hospitals, doctors, pharmacists, clinics and ambulance companies. The funds transfers between health care providers and patients happen through the National Health Service. The French health care will continue working well because of the support that it receives from the government.
Conclusion
France remains as the best nation in providing best health care service. Many countries try to emulate the French health care system but France remains the leader in provider high-level service to its citizens. It continues to provide quality care at an affordable cost to its citizens under its health insurance scheme and other regulations that the government sets.
References
About-france.com,. (2014). Health care in France - the French health service. Retrieved 20 May 2014, from http://about-france.com/health-care.htm
Gusmano, M. K., Rodwin, V., & Weisz, D. (2010). Health care in world cities: New York, Paris, and London. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Health Care France | French Health Care | Health Care in France. (2010). Retrieved 20 May 2014, from http://internationalliving.com/countries/france/health/
Johnson, J. A., & Stoskopf, C. H. (2010). Comparative health systems: Global perspectives. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Matcha, D. A. (2013). Health care systems of the developed world: How the United States' system remains an outlier. Westport, Conn: Praeger.
nhs.uk,. (2014). Accessing healthcare in France - Healthcare abroad - NHS Choices. Retrieved 20 May 2014, from http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/healthcareinFranc e.aspx
Rodwin, V. G. (2008). The health care system under French national health insurance: lessons for health reform in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 93(1), 31-37.
