Healthcare systems around the world vary greatly in quality, accessibility, and efficiency. Understanding these differences is key for global health perspectives. Start a search today to find out which countries have the best healthcare systems.
Comparing different healthcare models offers insights into how nations prioritize health and well-being. This knowledge not only informs personal health decisions but also contributes to broader discussions on healthcare policy and reform.
Canada
Republicans love to bash Canada’s single-payer health coverage, citing long wait times while claiming that wealthier Canadians flock south to the U.S. for private care. However, these claims are greatly inflated, and the fact that Canadians don’t have to live with the fear that getting sick will bankrupt them shows that their system is inherently better.
Canada’s system known as Medicare ensures that Canadians have free access to doctors, hospitals, and necessary care. The plans vary between provinces and some even include drug and dental for certain age groups. However, around 2/3 of Canadians take out private insurance to cover those services.
As far as Canadians leaving to seek treatment in the U.S., this mostly only happens in the case of rare medical issues that require specialized treatment. In 2014, most “medical tourists” who left Canada were neurosurgery patients.
France
In the United States, “welfare” is treated like a dirty word, but in France they’re proud to call themselves a “welfare state” where public spending accounts for 56.6 percent of the GDP. France’s system is a combination of public and private where the government program known as Assurance Maladie offers basic coverage for all citizens, but many also have private coverage called mutuelles that they or their employer pays for.
France’s health care system is also technologically advanced with an expansive database and every citizen is given a Carte Vitale health care card in order to access health services. One downside though is that free public services are very popular; French women in urban areas are said to book rooms in maternity wards as soon as they discover they’re pregnant.
New Zealand
New Zealand took its first steps towards creating a national health care system when it passed the Social Security Act in 1938, which was the first social security system to be established in the Western world.
Initially, New Zealand operated on a fully public system, but that has since morphed into one that’s a combination of public and private services. So those who can afford private insurance are guaranteed faster access to care as there can be long wait times for non-life-saving procedures in the public sector. New Zealand also has something called the Accident Compensation Corporation which covers emergency treatment in the wake of accidents and is available to both citizens and tourists.
Sweden
In 2013, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development reported that Sweden’s healthcare system had some of the best treatment outcomes in the world.
Each branch of the government plays an integral role in Sweden’s health care system. The federal government establishes guidelines and oversees implementation. At the regional level, 21 county councils are responsible for financing, and providing health and dental care. Finally, local municipalities are responsible for managing school care, social welfare services, and elderly and long-term psychiatric care.
Sweden plans to improve their system even further by digitizing all of its citizens’ health records by 2020, so patients can access their health and dental records online.
Germany
It’s crazy to think that the United States is just now getting around to passing legislation to provide healthcare for all its citizens considering that Germany passed its first health care bill in 1883.
Today, Germans have the option of public or private coverage although around 90 percent of German citizens get their coverage primarily through the government plan, which is offered by public-law corporations known as “sickness funds.” Premiums are determined by income and paid jointly by employers and employees while the government covers insurance for children and the unemployed. Even in the private sector, premiums are regulated to ensure that no German citizen is forced to shoulder outrageous healthcare costs should they fall ill.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong has one of the highest life expectancy rates in the world and their citizens can expect to live to around 81.32 years for men and 87.34 years for women. This is due in part to their health ministry’s aggressive anti-smoking campaigns combined with their highly effective healthcare system.
Like many countries, Hong Kong offers both private and public options and there are 42 government hospitals, 73 special out-patient clinics, and 73 general out-patient clinics available to its citizens. Like with any public healthcare system, there can be wait lists, so most wealthy citizens and ex-pats opt to pay out of pocket for private services. However, these fees are still far less than what American citizens would pay.
Britain
Britain has a fully socialized healthcare system that provides necessary care to all of its permanent residents through the National Health Service (NHS) and is funded by taxpayers. Around 90 percent of citizens rely on the NHS for their care while the other 10 percent opt to pay for care in the small but burgeoning private system.
Compared to other countries like Canada and Hong Kong, British citizens tend to experience lower wait times for non-emergency care making it one of the most efficient healthcare systems in the world.
Japan
Another country with a public-private hybrid system is Japan, whose citizens have a higher-than-average life expectancy of 80.98 years for men and 87.14 for women. Japan’s population is aging rapidly yet despite this they have some of the lowest health care costs in the world.
The government shoulders around 70 percent of health costs (or 90 percent for those who are low-income) while the other 30 percent is covered by private or employer insurance. Co-pays are tax deductible and unlike some other countries, dental and mental health services are included in the coverage. Medical fees are also strictly regulated to ensure they remain affordable.
Switzerland
Unlike many countries on this list, Switzerland doesn’t offer a public option of state-provided health services but instead requires all its residents to purchase basic insurance coverage. In turn, insurers must provide a basic package on a not-for-profit basis that doesn’t hinge on age or medical history. However, they can also offer for-profit supplemental packages with extended health benefits to those who can afford them.
The Swiss government also carefully regulates fees, costs, and drug prices and offers subsidies to those whose insurance costs exceed more than eight percent of their income. Overall, more than half of Swiss citizens are satisfied with their current system and say that wait times are low while choices are plentiful.
Australia
A 2017 study ranked Australia’s hybrid public and private healthcare system among the best in the developed world. Like Sweden, all three levels of government play a role in healthcare with the federal government providing funding, the state government providing public hospitals, dental care, ambulance services, and mental healthcare, and the local governments handling public health programs like vaccinations, water fluoridation, and mental health programs.
Publicly financed health insurance covers basic medical care and medications while optional private insurance, which comes with a tax rebate incentive, offers extended benefits and faster access to non-emergency services. They also offer something called the Lifetime Health Coverage program which guarantees lower premiums for life to those who sign up before the age of 31.
Learn More About Healthcare Around the World Today
As we’ve explored the best healthcare systems across the globe, it becomes clear that health management varies widely from one country to another. The internet is a valuable resource for further exploring these differences and understanding their impact. By researching more about global healthcare, you gain insights into what makes a system effective and how different approaches to health and wellness are implemented worldwide.