Comparing Healthcare Systems Around The World

Healthcare systems differ all around the world, as GDP and education influence health equity and accessibility. In this analysis, I will introduce some of the world’s best healthcare systems and what factors make them superior, including accessibility, affordability, and treatment quality. 

Moving from West to East, the United States healthcare system is the most expensive, as 17% of GDP was spent on healthcare in 2018. (Thomas) Unlike most other developed countries, the United States does not have a universal, free healthcare system. Instead, healthcare is based on a free-market system, where insurance is offered with employment that may not cover all healthcare expenses. Statistics show that more than half of expenditures are paid by public spending while third parties only pay 27%, making healthcare inaccessible and unaffordable to disadvantaged groups in the lower social class. Even so, it is one of the best in the world with a high rate of specialized scans such as CT and MRI as well as medical innovation. (Thomas) Its poorly built healthcare system increases prevalence of preventable lifestyle conditions such as diabetes and obesity. No wonder, the United States ranked 69 out of 104 countries according to the CEOWorld Magazine. (International Citizens Insurance)

With an 84.8-year life expectancy as of 2019, Singaporeans lead the globe in this respect.

In 2000, the nation ranked sixth among all health systems worldwide according to the World Health Organization, a position it continues to occupy, along with the first place in healthcare  according to CEOWorld Magazine.

So, what makes Singapore’s health system so great?

Singapore’s healthcare employs a public insurance program, MediShield Life for major medical expenses, and certain upscale patient care, but not primary or specialized patient care. (International Citizens Insurance) Working-age individuals pay higher rates to let older people benefit from cheaper rates, which are subsidized to help even those with modest incomes pay them. As a result, a multipayer financing system places equal responsibility for healthcare coverage on the government, healthcare providers, and patients. Competition and market forces improve healthcare quality, but when expenses start to grow over reasonable levels, the government strictly controls them. The centralized structure of the Ministry of Health reduces administrative expenses and streamlines processes. About 4.5% of Singapore's GDP is allocated to healthcare, a significant decrease from the United States (Thomas) The accessibility and affordability of Singapore’s healthcare can be correlated with its quality medical treatment, as patients are likely to be diagnosed quicker along close monitoring and follow-ups, leading to fewer patients with chronic conditions.

In conclusion, the structure of a healthcare system heavily affects quality of treatment and healthcare equity. Countries in East Asia, such as Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and China currently hold the top 5 ranks of the best healthcare systems in the world, while other more “developed” countries such as the UK or the USA rank much lower. Promoting universal healthcare to individuals of all ages and working conditions will help lower preventable mortality rates and enhance national health equity and safety. 

References:

Gong, Xiaoming. “The Health Care Gap between China and America.” Annals of Translational Medicine, vol. 2, no. 4, Apr. 2014, https://doi.org/10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2014.04.04.

International Citizens Insurance. “Ranking Best Health Care Systems in the World by Country.” International Travel Insurance Group, 2016, www.internationalinsurance.com/health/systems/.

International Trade Administration. “Singapore - Healthcare.” Www.trade.gov, 5 Jan. 2024, www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/singapore-healthcare.

Ministry of Health Singapore. “MOH | Quality and Innovation.” Www.moh.gov.sg, 16 June 2023, www.moh.gov.sg/home/our-healthcare-system/quality-and-innovation.

Thomas, Liji. “Healthcare Systems around the World.” News-Medical.net, 6 Apr. 2021, www.news-medical.net/health/Healthcare-Systems-Around-the-World.aspx.

Vankar, Preeti. “Health and Health System Ranking of Countries Worldwide in 2023.” Statista, 12 Apr. 2023, www.statista.com/statistics/1376359/health-and-health-system-ranking-of-countries-worldwide/.

World Health Organization. “Health Equity -- Global.” Www.who.int, 2020, www.who.int/health-topics/health-equity.