According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no perfect health care system, anywhere in the world, which covers the entire population’s problems. WHO past studies confirmed that the positive indicators and health outcomes do not depend directly on the level of economic development of the state. The US is an example of a developed nation that has many problems in this area.
In the US, there is private medicine and private medical insurance. Along with this there is public funding of health insurance – “Medicare”, which provides medical assistance to persons over 65 years, and “Medicaid”, for the unemployed, poor and disabled, as well as children’s insurance. However, not all low-income individuals are receiving assistance under these programmes. According to the American trade union association AFL-CIO, 47 million Americans are not insured. This is recognized by American politicians and scientists.
US presidential candidate Barack Obama has advocated the introduction of new certification programs for doctors, the introduction of compulsory insurance for the poor. The main question all debate is whether the proposed policy measures will fully solve the problems of health improvement in the US? To some extent, the proposals will solve this problem, but clearly not in full. There is a need to take decisive action on important issues. Consider the current statistics.
U.S. spends more on medical health care than any other state. According to the Center for State Medical Assistance programs – Centers for Medicare & Medikey services is now the US spends on health care $ 2.1 trillion., Representing approximately 16.3% of gross domestic product (GDP). This is significantly higher than other industrialized countries. Second place for expenditure on GDP, took Switzerland (11.5% of GDP), followed by France (11%), Germany (10.6%), Canada (9.2%), Britain (8.1%) and Japan (8%).
According to the forecasts of analysts in 2017 to the cost of health care in the US will increase by half. But while life expectancy in the U.S. on these international institutions less than that of citizens of certain developed countries. The main problem of the inaccessibility of the actual situation at an adequate level of health of people with low incomes, the US has very high tariffs on services and prices of medicines. In the opinion Hillary Clinton “existing system of health immoral because they do not provide medical care for everyone. We pay for the health of more than anyone in the world”.
Big problem also exist in the approaches of health insurance companies to cover the US medical services. One of the main principles of American insurance companies – pay the expenses, subject to the definition of health care by the insurance company. This is a problem.
Patients in the U.S. for example could set an antibiotic or other medicine, and if the disease is progressing slowly, then usually the next phase, while medical insurance will pay only for the operation treatment.
But international practice medical treatment confirms the fact that operating therapy is not always the best treatment. Many diseases can be cured by various less expensive therapies. This could help save large funds, both patients and insurance companies, and as a result of an increased commitment to finance the treatment of patients in need.
There is another big issue in medicine USA. Pharmaceuticals. Cost of production of drugs is much less than their selling price. Costs of of drugs are greatly overstated. Why are there such high prices for medical drugs and medications?
A paradox – it is only for the economic interests of their producers. Creation of programs for mass production of cheap and quality medicines – nown as “generics” – is a way out of this high expense situation.
Therefore, only through bold and dramatic steps to improve health and health insurance can significant results and improved overall medical care be achieved for everyone.
