Healthcare Research
Institutional Affiliation
Date
Comparison between Canada and the U.S
As per the statistics between the United States and Canada, the U.S. appears to be doing better in terms of Information Communications Technology and economy. However, it was surprising to know that the Canadian healthcare system has reduced costs, additional services, global healthcare access with no financial barriers, and first-rate health status compared to the U.S. healthcare system. The statistics are not likely to change in the next ten years since the United States is a more significant worldwide superpower; Canada has shown some general growth potential, but it will be difficult for the country to outdo the U.S.
Two-Tier Health System
I think that allowing some individuals to buy additional insurance establishes a quality variance depending on how both the publicly financed and privately financed systems are governed, funded, and also regulated. The publicly financed system may also be underfinanced and overstretched, which could present the private plans a favorable chance to offer excellent quality care but at a higher coverage cost. Such an initiative is disadvantageous and also beneficial. The main benefit of such an initiative is that it eases the publicly financed system’s congestion. The other benefit is that one is free to access healthcare depending on the size of their pocket. One of the disadvantages is that it creates a division or inequality between the low-class and the high-class individuals. The other drawback is that the privately financed systems could take advantage of their high-quality services to charge more cash to innocent civilians who feel that the publicly financed system offers low-quality services.
Barriers to Healthcare
Financial barriers are when individuals avoid healthcare services or even medication as a result of limited funds. For instance, one may opt to medicate a particular ailment using traditional techniques since they cannot afford to pay for hospital services and medication. Inadequate healthcare givers’ situation is whereby patients’ demand is higher than the number of available caregivers in a health institution. For instance, a patient may be forced to go back home without being attended to if the patients are too many, while the available physicians are only a few. Barriers to access healthcare are the general hindrances that prevent an individual from obtaining medical care. They include heightened healthcare costs, limited or lack of insurance coverage, and lack of healthcare services availability.
Cultural barriers to healthcare are those hindrances brought about by cultural variances between physicians and patients. They include languages and cultural beliefs. For example, immigrant patients encounter numerous obstacles when obtaining healthcare services since their language is different from that of the host country. Lastly, limited healthcare resources can be a healthcare barrier in that when the hospital resources to back up hospital personnel are not enough, serving patients can be very challenging. Health care resources include facilities, materials, finances, and even personnel. For instance, if there is no money to obtain enough materials like needles, that can hinder hospital personnel from delivering healthcare services to patients. Also, increased staff turnover, inadequate training, competent knowledge, skills, etc., are hindrances to care delivery since employees are essential hospital resources.
Equity and Fairness
Equity and fairness imply that every individual is supposed to have an equal chance to achieve their total potential for healthcare or healthcare usage. The U.S healthcare system does not practice equality since it is very costly, thus shutting out the low-class individuals from accessing quality care. On the other hand, Canada’s healthcare system values equality since nearly every Canadian has a primary caregiver. Also, Canada’s general healthcare quality is highly ranked. Equality and fairness are essential since providing equal healthcare that does not differ in terms of quality, as a result of individuals’ characteristics, is vital.
I agree with the statement since the main goal is serving the best interests of a community. A capitalistic economy promotes equality since everyone, whether rich or poor, is subjected to similar legal rules. Similarly, the universal healthcare system offers services to every individual; it does not matter if they are able to pay or not.
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