The Economic Foundations of America’s Unique Health Care System
The economic aspect of the country dramatically influences healthcare policy systems in the United States of America. Healthcare in the US has been used by professionals to gain profit. In contrast, the government has controlled healthcare in other developed nations like Britain, Germany, and Japan, making it unprofitable. As such, there are potent forces in health care in the US whose interest is to make money rather than enable reforms.
The “Escape Fire” documentary provides evidence of this as it shows the moves taken by a portion of medics to make some healthcare changes in the US (Fire, 2012). The film demonstrates the strength and influence of the for-profit healthcare sector lobby and how it has previously been effective in thwarting reform initiatives. The movie “Sick Around the World” also features Taiwan as an example of a country that contrasts with this. The government governs Taiwan’s healthcare system, and reform faces significantly less opposition (Brabantstraat, 2017). Due to its ability to adapt to changes, Taiwan has raised its people’s standards and healthcare costs.
The development of individual healthcare policy in the United States has been influenced by several crucial variables, with the economy ranking among them. There are considerable entrenched interests that support the current state of the state’s health service since, in the U. S., hospital attention is a company that is run for profit. The documentary “Escape Fire,” which follows a group of medical specialists attempting to raise the standard of healthcare provided in the US, makes this very evident (Fire, 2012). The documentary shows how powerful and essential the for-profit healthcare industry’s lobby is and how successfully it sabotaged prior attempts at change.
Global Comparisons: How Economic Factors Shape Health Care Systems Abroad
On the other hand, the healthcare system is run by the government in countries like Taiwan, and reform is much more readily accepted there. It is a direct outcome of this that Taiwan has indeed been able to make adjustments that have improved the population’s access to high-quality healthcare.
One of the most critical differences between Taiwan’s and the United States’ health systems is that Taiwan’s government is more willing to participate in preventative care than it is only to treat people who are already ill (Brabantstraat, 2017). The population’s overall health has improved, which has helped to lower healthcare costs in the long run. The development of the unique healthcare system that the States of America has is not solely due to economic factors.
Another essential element is political ideology. Free market philosophy is deeply ingrained in American culture, and the nation’s healthcare system has been impacted by this belief (Blumenthal et al., 2020). Healthcare in a free-market economy is treated like any other good or service, which has driven up the price of treatment and left many Americans without access to quality healthcare.
The United States of America’s healthcare policy was developed in response to several other factors, including public sentiment, national culture, and current events. However, the economy and someone’s political philosophies are two of the most crucial aspects. Profits drive the healthcare industry in the United States, and any attempts to modify this are met with strong resistance (Brabantstraat, 2017). By contrast, governments in countries with socialized medicine act as the primary healthcare providers. As a result, healthcare in these nations is more affordable and more easily accessible to the general public.
References
Blumenthal, D., Fowler, E. J., Abrams, M., & Collins, S. R. (2020). Covid-19—implications for the health care system. New England Journal of Medicine, 383(15), 1483–1488.
Brabantstraat, 2017PBS Frontline “Sick around the World” 2008, an enlightening documentary about different approaches to health care in 5 countries. Web.
Fire, E. (2012). The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare. Web.
