Across the globe, different countries have adopted unique health care models that resonate well with their people. An in-depth analysis of T.D Reid’s documentary dubbed Sick Around the World brings to light a distinction of the various existing health care models adopted by selected countries. An overview of the UK, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, and Switzerland health care systems distinctively brings out three unique models. The guarantee for the health care needs of the citizens is one of the most pivotal roles of governments. No wonder, many countries spent a substantial percentage of the GDP per capita to finance health care. In the documentary, three distinct health care models come to light namely the Beveridge model, the National Health Insurance model, and the Bismarck model.
The Beveridge health care model is based on the idea of offering high-quality health care to people without regard to profit-making. The UK National Health Service is a good example of a Beveridge model that makes use of taxpayers' money to finance health care. In this model, citizens to not cater to their medical bills thus allowing equitable access to quality health care. In Britain, hospitals are owned by the government and the cost of health care is entirely financed by the government ( Kos, 2019). In the system, patients choose the health care facility that they want thus making hospitals compete for survival or for the government’s money. To finance such a model, citizens pay more taxes than countries such as the US where a different health care model is used. However, the Beveridge model comes with advantages such as shorter waiting times, no bills and enhanced preventive medicine. This model happens in such a manner that gatekeepers do a preliminary diagnosis before recommending the next course of action for the patient. It is critical to note that the Beveridge model is similar to the Medicare and Medicaid insurance programs offered by the US.
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The National Health Insurance Model is a blend of the Beveridge model and other health care models. In this framework, the private sector takes the role of providing health care services to the people using funding from the insurance programs run by the government for which every citizen pays. The National Health Insurance lowers the cost of health care for the whole country that applies the model. It the reason why Taiwan spends only 6.2 % of the GDP per capita on health care compared to 16 percent spent by the US ( Gaeta, Campanella, Capasso , Schifino, Gentile, Banfi , & Ricci, 2017). The reduced administrative costs reduced waiting time and the absence of gatekeepers makes the National Health Insurance model a viable model for the provision of equitable and quality health care for the population. The National Health Insurance model works in such a way that through legislation, governments establishes a minimum standard of health care that is non-discriminatory in terms of charges and the health care status of the patients. For the case of Taiwan, the model has proven successful by ensuring that all citizens have access to health care in spite of the status in society just like Universal Health Care. This model is applied in countries such as Taiwan, Canada, and South Korea.
The Bismarck health care model works in sickness funds that are run by an insurance system that is financed both by employers and employees. Just like the one applied in the US, taxes are deducted from the employees’ paychecks and remitted to a sickness fund. In Germany, the Bismarck model works in such a manner that the employers do not limit the type of health care providers that their employees get services from. The Bismarck health care model works in such a manner that employees have the leeway of choosing from a wide pool of insurance companies to remit their sickness fund ( Gaeta, Campanella, Capasso , Schifino, Gentile, Banfi , & Ricci, 2017). The insurance companies, under the Bismarck model, are subject to government regulation to ensure that there is equity in the multi-payer system. In the Bismarck model, patients can choose the low-cost drugs and may also opt to top up in the event they required higher-cost drugs. In Germany, the Bismarck model allows the rich to opt-out of the scheme in the event that they want to and can afford a pay-from-pocket kind of arrangement. The Bismarck model has been adopted by countries such as Japan, Netherlands, France, Belgium, and Switzerland.
Different countries choose health care models that best suit their needs and within their budgets. Countries such as the US with such a huge population cannot sustain the universal health care program even after dedicating 16 percent of her GDP per capita on health care. The three health care models discussed above are among the four health care models that more than 190 countries have adopted globally. The significance of health care to the citizens of a country makes it a very pertinent issue for the adoption of a viable health care model that guarantees quality and affordable health care for her people. The failures of the US health care system in terms of affordability calls for a review of the model adopted by the country for the country to properly address her health care needs.
References
Gaeta, M., Campanella, F., Capasso, L., Schifino, G. M., Gentile, L., Banfi, G., ... & Ricci, C. (2017). An overview of different health indicators used in the European Health Systems. Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene , 58 (2), E114.
Kos, M. (2019). Introduction to Healthcare Systems. In The Pharmacist Guide to Implementing Pharmaceutical Care (pp. 437-441). Springer, Cham.
