Switzerland has a highly and extensively developed health care system. Its health care system went through a massive expansion and growth after the Second World War. The inpatient health care grew in the cantons in an uncoordinated manner. For a long period of time, the country has had excess capacity in a number of areas in the provision and delivery of health care services to its population (Britnell, 2015). However, in the early 1990s, the country made significant efforts and steps to reduce capacity and coordinate health care at a national level (Britnell, 2015).
Prior 1970s, Switzerland was experiencing a shortage in some health professionals. This included a shortage in dentists and hospital-based doctors (Busato & Kunzi, 2008). In addition, health care services and delivery in the rural and remote areas were not adequate. Today, the shortage in doctors has been dealt with and eliminated and in fact the number of doctors in this country is perceived to be high. In the first half of the 20 th century, health care policies in the Swiss Confederation and the cantons placed major focus on disease prevention for the population (Schmid et. al , 2018).
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This approach, which was based on the population, is believed to have been the best and most effective method of improving health care in Switzerland when the country was experiencing economic challenges and increased levels of infectious illnesses. At the end of the Second World War, major focus and emphasis was put on the individual and on curative treatment. Towards the end of the 1960s, the health care in Switzerland had tremendously grown and improved up to date ( Gerritzen & Kirchgässner, 2013).
Due to the increased and high expenditure experts raised questions on the curative approach of the health care system. This provoked discussions on new ways that are oriented towards disease prevention targeting an individual person and health promoting practices. However, although there were efforts to change the country’s health care system inclination towards general population health, the preventive approach is still selective and is characterized by a lack of proper coordination.
The health care system in Switzerland is mainly financed by means of compulsory health insurance plans. After the revision of the health insurance law in 1996, every permanent resident in the country was legally obligated to buy compulsory health insurance policy ( Pellegrini & Kohler, 2014 ). Individuals buy insurance policies whereby the premiums are the same for all people residing in a particular canton. Before 1996, the rates were risk related and led to certain individuals was labeled as high risk individuals by the insurance companies. The high risk individuals included the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. This made them unable to afford health insurance.
For Americans, health insurance plans are offered by both the public and private firm. However, a significant contribution towards the cover is made. In the United States, the health care system economy is capitalistic and competitive (Barnes, 2016). There are several ways in which people finance their health care. Besides the public health care programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, there are private insurance companies that help address the issue of health coverage. Different from the Switzerland case, the United States health care system depends on several ways to finance its aim of giving quality care to all Americans. It relies on tax deductions from individuals, federal funding, private insurance firms, and individual payments for health care services.
The only individuals who are residents in Switzerland exempted from compulsory insurance according to the new system are public servants and non-Swiss individuals who are living in Switzerland for more than three months and are insured for health services in Switzerland. Those who are not Swiss citizens are handled in an emergency and the issue of who pays for the costs incurred comes afterwards.
The compulsory health insurance can be obtained from a few number of insurance firms, both in the private and public sector. The insurance companies are controlled by the Federal Office for Social Insurance. The insurance companies in Switzerland are not allowed to make profit from their compulsory health insurance plans. In addition, the insurance companies are closely followed and monitored by the Federal Office which requires them to submit their accounts too. The citizens are also allowed a free choice of their insurance providers for the compulsory health insurance plan. Furthermore, insurance companies are instructed not to refuse anyone compulsory health insurance policy.
The compulsory health insurance caters for a number of healthy services as stated in the revised insurance law. All the other services that are not covered by the compulsory health insurance are covered by supplementary health insurance or by direct payments. The difference between the compulsory health insurance premiums and the supplementary health insurance premiums is that the supplementary ones are in usually related to risk.
Health expenditure has continually grown in the last two decades. This is as a result of the increased levels of supply. According to statistics, Switzerland has the highest number of hospitals, many doctors and the highest concentration of high technology equipment. In addition to provision levels, traditions and cultural aspects have an impact on consumption. Residents of French and German origin show different patterns of health care expenditure just as those in the rural and urban areas. The differences in the expenses are as a result of the cultural variations in the rates of utilization. Those of French origin tend to use more services as compared to the others.
Research plan
The research plan includes literature review, data collection, conducting a pilot study, dealing with problems that may arise after data collection and analysis, actual research and research reporting. The data collected will involve the storage and retrieval of data. The following considerations have been considered: data accuracy, quick and efficient data retrieval, data analysis and comparison and creation of appropriate outputs. The problems to be dealt with will be those that may arise in case the research project does not develop as expected. This is because by nature, research is never predictable and therefore adequate planning important.
The pilot study will include a planned preliminary data collection, applying the identified and planned methods in a limited sample. The aim of this will be to test the approach and seek any details or aspects that require being addressed prior the main data collection. The outline below shows the research plan: February: research proposal writing, literature review, carry out a pilot study and carry out the main data collection. March: finish data collection, carry out data analysis, plan and write the first dissertation draft. April: finish the first draft, discuss the completed draft with the supervisor, write a second draft, proofread and submit.
In conclusion, the Swiss health care system addresses the most important aspects of good health outcomes and ensures universal health coverage. However, this success has been accompanied by high financial costs. The WHO praised the Swiss health system due to its high quality however recommendations on its high spending. Switzerland and USA compare in the high costs of health care while other OECD countries are doing well at a reduced cost.
References
The Performance of the Swiss Health System. (2006). OECD Reviews of Health Systems OECD Reviews of Health Systems: Switzerland 2006, 89-109. Doi: 10.1787/9789264025837-5-en.
Busato, A., & Künzi, B. (2008). Primary care physician supply and other key determinants of health care utilisation: The case of Switzerland. BMC Health Services Research, 8 (1). Doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-8-8.
Pellegrini, S., & Kohler, D. (2014). Switzerland: Geographic variations in health care. OECD Health Policy Studies Geographic Variations in Health Care, 367-392. Doi: 10.1787/9789264216594-16-en.
Britnell, M. (2015). Switzerland. In Search of the Perfect Health System, 102-105. Doi: 10.1007/978-1-137-49662-1_18.
Gerritzen, B. C., & Kirchgässner, G. (2013). Federalism in Health and Social Care in Switzerland. Federalism and Decentralization in European Health and Social Care, 250-271. Doi: 10.1057/9781137291875_12.
Schmid, C. P., Beck, K., & Kauer, L. (2018). Health Plan Payment in Switzerland. Risk Adjustment, Risk Sharing and Premium Regulation in Health Insurance Markets, 453-489. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-811325-7.00016-6
Barnes, A. J., Unruh, L. Y., Rosenau, P., & Rice, T. (2016). Health System in the USA. Health Services Research Health Care Systems and Policies, 1-33. Doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-6419-8_18-1
