Free Comparing International Healthcare Delivery Systems Essay Example

Nursing

Irrespective of how good a healthcare program of a particular country is, there are bound to be certain weaknesses somewhere. However, when comparison is drawn between the healthcares systems among developed countries are considered, a number of country’s healthcare system outclasses that of the U.S. So, a few questions that crop to mind include, what makes for a good health system, what makes for a fair health system fair, and how does one know whether a health system is as good as it claims it is? It would be illogical to consider the response of respondents to these questions to be perfect, but will influence one’s perspective based on the answers respondents make. However, for any evaluation to take place, one has to consider the role of the concerned government in implementing programs, the budget allocation for healthcare programs, the role of the hospital and its stakeholders in implementing the concerned programs, and the views of people who have used the healthcare system sometime in their life. This is an exhaustive process, and not too many researchers have been able to point all the flaws or merits of healthcare in all countries. Whatever standard is applied in evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of healthcare systems across the globe, it is evident that health systems in some countries perform better than others. This is not because of the volume of money spent on healthcare, but the way these systems are designed, managed and financed. In hindsight, evaluation can be gauged by the number of deaths, disability, impoverishment, and despair.
In comparison, Costa Rica, a Latin American country, celebrated its seventieth year of healthcare management in 2010. It would seem ridiculous to consider a developing country’s healthcare system with that of the U.S, but, when Costa Rica started their healthcare system with the intention of addressing social security for public sector workers, it has over the years consolidated its system to such an extent that it is among the world’s most effectively universalized healthcare; both financially and geographically. The success of its healthcare system is such that the country’s infant mortality and life expectancy indicators are as good as those of developed European countries (Sáenz, Bermúdez & Acosta, 2010).

References

Sáenz, M., Bermúdez, J., & Acosta, M. (2010). Universal Coverage in a Middle Income Country: Costa Rica. WHO. Retrieved 22 March 2015, from http://www.who.int/healthsystems/topics/financing/healthreport/CostaRicaNo11.pdf