Which Countries Provide Universal Healthcare?
Almost all of the so-called developed world offer universal healthcare, with the United States being the only exception. In America, the US's Northern neighbour Canada does as do South American and Central American countries such as Venezuela, Costa Rica, Chile, Argentina and Cuba. The majority of American countries, however, do not. Very few African countries have universal healthcare systems, with Tunisia and Botswana the only two exceptions. This is likely due to many of these being poor countries and it therefore not being affordable or not being a priority for the state. Within Asia and Australasia Australia and New Zealand both have such healthcare systems but the majority of Asian countries do not. Mongolia, Japan, South Korea and Thailand do though, as do the Middle Eastern nations of the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Europe is where national health services originated and is offered to citizens in most European countries, including all of Western Europe. Poland, Lithuania and Russia are amongst the few exceptions in Eastern Europe.
The Origination of Universal Healthcare
Germany has the world's oldest healthcare system, which dates back to the late nineteenth century. The United Kingdom followed in 1911. At the time only employed citizens and their families, and those who had contributed financially for five years or more, were offered free healthcare. The National Health Service, or NHS, was established in 1948 when all citizens were included. During these early post-war years the number of nations offering universal healthcare increase as the Declaration of Human Rights was established. Only a few countries didn't sign the agreement, which included rights to healthcare and a quality standard of living for citizens, while only two countries, the United States and South Africa, signed it but did not ratify it.
How is Universal Healthcare Paid For?
Funding varies, with different countries doing it in different ways. Taxation or compulsory insurance tends to form the basis for funding and covers the majority of the cost. Levies and private payment can make up some of it, while in certain systems additional services are available at a price, with this supplementing the rest of the services offered.
Compulsory insurance is where citizens have to, by law, purchase health insurance, which then funds the health system. Everyone is therefore covered as everyone is insured. Those who cannot afford this often have insurance provided free of charge. Taxing citizens on their income is the other main form of funding, whereby some of the money governments collect in taxation goes towards health.
Private Healthcare
Just because a country has a universal healthcare system doesn't mean there is no private healthcare. Many countries have a private health industry as well as a national health service. They can pay for healthcare insurance, meaning they receive certain types of care privately depending on the specific package that they pay for. Certain treatments are also available on an individual basis privately, which can lead to quicker treatment or a better quality of service.
Healthcare systems do vary from country to country, with no two systems identical. The benefits of universal healthcare cannot be denied. It means that all citizens can receive healthcare, including essential treatment, whatever their financial circumstances.
Andrew Marshall ©
For more information about universal healthcare in the UK visit the NHS website. For more information about private healthcare visit Private GP London.
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