GHSD 6030 Assignment 1 Chart

Student name:

Name of Country Used for Comparison:

Australia

Is there a particular reason that you selected this country?

The Australians have the longest life expectancy at 81 years as per the world health organization. The country’s health system has been effective in ensuring free universal medical care for all its citizens [1].

2. Please highlight the central factors of the system (3-4 sentences each):

Coverage (who is covered, what is covered, what is not covered, etc.):

The health system covers Australian citizens who receive free medical care in public hospitals. The coverage extends to outpatient’s services, minor surgeries, dental care, optometry, mental health care, community health services and ambulance transport.

Individuals can take out private health insurance to cover out-of-pocket costs, with either a plan that covers just selected services, to a full coverage plan.

The government does not cover physiotherapy services and dental treatment

Provision of services (how are services provided; where are services provided; private vs. public sector, etc.)

The state and territory governments

–   Ambulatory care includes basic consultation services provided by general practitioners (PG). The PGs are the gatekeepers to the Medicare system. –The GPs are in charge of general medical care, family planning, minor surgical procedures and counselling.

–   Specialists mostly in private practice provide secondary care; day care centers provide such medical services.

–   Tertiary health care are mostly referrals to high complex medical facilities located in cities

Veterans receive individual medical packages, which covers them for life.

Medical practitioners get 75% rebates when they receive treatment from private hospitals.

Private sector

The private sector involvement in healthcare ranges from private practices, private clinics pharmaceutical services and pathological services.

Private hospitals traditionally provide lesser complex non-emergency care, like simple elective surgery.

Financing (how are services financed, do patients or employers contribute to payment, etc.)

The government through an income tax regime funds the system partially. The tax is levied in a progressive administration to ensure equality among the citizens.

Patients can opt to seek treatment in private medical facilities upon which, the medical cost at private hospitals paid by the patient who later recoups 75% of the Medicare scheduled fee.

Other important information about the system

The government sets national health policies and subsidizes the medical services provided by State and Territory governments and the private sector. This coordination helps reduce workloads at the public hospitals.

3. In your opinion what are the strengths/benefits of such a system? (2-3 sentences)

The people get free medical services irrespective of their social status

The system allows residents to seek treatment at private hospitals at subsidized rates.

Progressive taxation to finance the Medicare program ensures equity in the system

4. In your opinion, what are the challenges/drawbacks of such a system (2 -3 sentences)?

The Medicare system works under a progressive tax regime, whereby the tax levies increase with increases in income. As a result, the rich get taxed more irrespective of their hard work.

The system mainly concentrates in the urban areas while the system least covers the Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders in the rural areas.

Since dental care is in the hands of the private practitioners, there exists differential access to dental care. The rich get quality dental care as compared to the poor.

5. In your opinion, could the United States follow a similar health care model as the country that you chose? Please list the three biggest challenges that the United States government would face if we implemented such a system (3 -4 sentences)?

The annual expenditure on health would rise beyond imaginable levels.

It would cause massive unemployment in the private health care sector.

There will be a public outcry from individuals with private health insurance covers will lose their current covers.

Restructuring the current system in place will take long to take effect.

6. List three constituencies/special interest groups that would likely oppose the implementation of a national health care plan similar to the country that you chose. Please give a short reason why each group would oppose the plan (one or two sentences acceptable).

Private medical practice: Patient’s will opt to go for free medical services rendering them out of business.

Insurance companies who will lose the clients they previously covered.

The rich who would be taxed more relative to the poor since the system operates on a progressive tax mechanism.

7. After watching Sick Around the World, please describe how your selected country compares to the countries featured in the documentary.

Superior in quality

The people have a longer life span as per the records of the world health organization. [2]

It is cheaper to administer.

8. What did you learn about how your selected country addresses the issues featured in the documentary?

The federal government collaborates with the private sector through subsidies to help reduce the burden on public hospitals. [3]

The Medical Services Advisory Committee advises the federal Minister for Health about matters relating to the safety, cost and quality of latest and developing medical services and technologies providing conditions for which public funding needs support.

9. Given your own personal situation, would you prefer receiving health care in the United States or the country that you chose for this comparison (and why)? Separate from your own personal situation, do you prefer the health care system of the country you selected or that of the US (and why)?

Being an American citizen, I would prefer to receive my treatment here because the Australian system does not cover non-citizens. This means I would have to dig deeper into my pockets for treatment.

I would give preference to Australia because I might opt to seek treatment from a private hospital of my choice upon which I can recoup 75% of my money from the Medicare system.

[1] Retrieved from > < http://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/19-gene-patents-and-healthcare-system/overview-australian-healthcare-syste

[2] Retrieved from > < http://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/19-gene-patents-and-healthcare-system/overview-australian-healthcare-sys

[3] Retrieved from > < http://www.who.int/en/