Some people think that basic healthcare should be free for everyone. Others believe people should pay their own medical costs

Who pays for

healthcare

? The answer varies from country to country. While in some nations it is completely free for all residents, in others you can only see a doctor if you pay.

This

essay will identify three main models of

healthcare

throughout the world, noting some advantages and disadvantages.

First

, there are several systems within

this

model, but they all aim to provide free basic

healthcare

. In some countries, consultations, treatment and medicines are free to all citizens.

This

may be paid for directly by the government, perhaps funded by the country’s valuable natural resources which the government owns. Other countries collect money from citizens through taxes based on their income. Workers pay according to how much they earn and employers

also

make a contribution. Hospitals and other medical services are

then

provided and run by the government. There may

also

be some private medical services that people can choose to buy. The advantage of systems

such

as these is clear: free basic

healthcare

for all, regardless of income.

However

, it is a very expensive

system

and, as life expectancy and costs rise, many countries are facing either an unsustainable financial burden, or a drop in the quality of services and facilities provided.

Secondly

, in the private model,

healthcare

is only available to patients who pay for it and

healthcare

providers are commercial companies. In wealthier countries, most citizens take out health insurance to cover their potential medical costs.

However

, not everyone can afford

this

, and some governments have a scheme which gives financial assistance to those who need urgent medical care but are unable to afford it. In other nations, there is no

such

safety net, and those who cannot pay simply do not get the

healthcare

they need, unless they can get help. The disadvantages of

this

system

are obvious: not only are individuals deprived of the medical attention they need, but

also

the lack of preventative medicine means that infectious diseases can quickly spread. One advantage,

however

, is that a higher quality of care provision can sometimes be maintained by commercial organizations than by struggling government-funded ones. In many countries, there is a mix of public and private funding.

This

system

requires all its citizens to take out health insurance.

This

is deducted from salaries by the employer, who

also

has to make a contribution for each worker. Citizens are able to choose their

healthcare

providers, which may be public or private.

However

, in some systems, private companies are not permitted to make a profit from providing basic

healthcare

.

This

model provides more flexibility than either the public or private models, and ensures access to

healthcare

for all.

However

, it has been criticized for driving up labour costs, which can lead to unemployment.

This

essay has examined three models of

healthcare

provision and some advantages and disadvantages of each. As no

system

is perfect, several countries are now considering a combination of the models for their national health arrangement. The challenge is to find a structure which provides a good level of

healthcare

to all citizens, but which is

also

affordable and practical.