Reflection Paper
Introduction
The documentary, “Sick around the World” by Jon Palfreman centers on the health care systems of five capitalist democracies and compares them with the U.S health care system. In particular, the film analyses the way the United Kingdom, German, Switzerland, Japan, and Taiwan provide health care and draws a comparison with the way the United States provides the same. There are remarkable differences in the health care systems of all the six countries. The present paper reflects on the differences between these countries with regard to the insurance, services, technology, and consumer satisfaction and comments on whether the United States healthcare system would benefit by adopting the features of these countries’ health care systems.
Insurance
In Great Britain, the government plays a significant role in health care provision. As described in the film the British government offers and also pays for the healthcare. The government-run National Health Service is responsible for allocating the providers of healthcare the funds from the taxes paid by the citizens. Consequently, the Great Britain’s healthcare system is financed through taxes that the citizens pay. German utilizes a social insurance model. The private sector in this country plays a significant part in the healthcare system. Specifically, the citizens in German buy their healthcare insurance from the private sector. Switzerland also utilizes a social insurance model just like German. The health insurance companies in this country provide cover to the citizens. The government also plays an important role since it helps those citizens who do not have enough money to pay for the premiums. Japan also uses a social insurance model just like German and Switzerland. The private sector also plays a significant role in healthcare provision in this country. Most health insurance on Japan is private. Taiwan has a National Health Insurance Model. Every citizen in this country must be covered. The Taiwanese government helps in paying premiums.
Great Britain leads in the provision of preventive care. Besides, this country is considered a leader in preventive medicine. Great Britain has GPs who are instrumental in providing the citizens with preventive healthcare. The country’s health care system covers everyone. Unlike in Great Britain, the preventive medicine in German is underdeveloped. Thus, the German healthcare system provides treatment services more than preventive services. The Japanese, Switzerland, and Taiwanese health care systems concentrate on preventive care just like the Great Britain’s healthcare system.
Technology
Advanced technologies characterize the healthcare systems of all the five capitalist democracies. In essence, the advancements in technology in all the five countries have helped the physicians better diagnose as well as treat different ailments. As capitalist democracies, all the five countries have advanced technologies. As a matter of fact, these technologies have essentially made substantial contributions to enhancing the health of citizens in all the countries.
Consumer Satisfaction
Unlike in the U.S., the citizens of all the five capitalists democracies described in the film are satisfied with the healthcare services provided although there are some concerns. In Great Britain, it is reported that there are long waiting lists for the patients and limited choice. The single-payment system in German makes some doctors feel underpaid. The health care systems of Switzerland is one of the expensive systems in the world. The lack of gatekeepers in the Japanese Healthcare system implies that some Japanese patients might not get the recommended care. Lastly, the Taiwanese healthcare system is affected by politics and, as a consequence, it might not satisfy the patients.
Conclusion
I believe that the U.S, healthcare system would benefit by adopting some features of the Britain’s healthcare system. In particular, it could benefit by concentrating on preventive care and covering every citizen just like the British healthcare system. Besides, the United States government would improve the country’s healthcare system by regulating the healthcare prices just like the Japanese government does. I would also benefit by adopting the German’s healthcare insurance that covers a significant percentage of Germans. Moreover, the U.S. healthcare system would benefit by adopting the Taiwanese National Health Insurance, which ensures that all the citizens have equal access to healthcare. What is more, I believe that the United States healthcare system would benefit if the federal government prohibits the insurance companies from making the profit on the basic care just as Swiss government does.
References
Palfreman, J. (2008). Sick Around the World | FRONTLINE | PBS [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/sickaroundtheworld/
