Compare and contrast the UK healthcare system with US

 Introduction:
The healthcare system of every country represents the future of that country as if the healthcare system is highly concrete then it helps in making people healthy and the stressed free living standards could be promoted. The health care regulations and policies must support the healthy environment within the country and should helps on the ground of promoting the awareness related to the health issues (Lloyd, Braithwaite and Southon, 1999). Every country has different perspective with respect to the construction of healthcare system. Here in this report also the investigation has been on the ground of comparing the health care system of UK with US. The similarities and differences in the healthcare system of both the countries have been discussed in an articulated manner.

Body paragraphs:
The conditions in UK and US are completely different and their international standards towards the healthcare system are also different. The World Health Organization has measured the overall performance of healthcare industry of both the countries on different parameters and has found that the health conditions in UK are far better than US (Elliott, Hatton and   Emerson, 2003). The UK government has better arrangements with the perspective of dealing with the problems and issues of health care. Mainly the UK health care industry operates on the NHS model (National Health Service) where the government of UK promotes the right of getting access to health care services for every individual. The entire structure of health care industry within the UK revolves around the NHS model only. They design each and every policy and control all the operations related to health care services. This kind of central authority allows the UK government to put more control on their health care system (Reid, 2010). Every activity related to the healthcare could be implemented in well organized and well structured manner
It includes the continuous improvement in the technological aspects along with the increment in the competency of staff and improving the infrastructure of health care industry. The UK government provides the wide range of facilities to its service users and focus on delivering the best and excellent health and care services to its users. NHS is completely and solely responsible for the development of healthcare industry within UK and UK government provides the financial support to the operations of NHS. Department of health is government body in UK that has done remarkable job in improving the health standards of local citizens and supporting the NHS. The National Health Service act 1946 includes lots of guidelines of the hospital and other healthcare systems. The structure of UK healthcare system is also appreciable and big. It includes lots of health departments and emergency wards along with the advanced medical facilities. Health professionals include physiotherapists, radiologists, psychologists etc. The staff is also highly trained and skilled in their areas as guidelines issues by the NHS (Johnson and Stoskopf, 2010). The ambulance emergency number 999 also works dedicatedly towards providing the quick services to the patients. The transportation facilities have also improved for the same. Online facilities, 24/7 assistance, 365 days availability etc. these are also some of the additional feature which helps in improving the health care system in UK. The trap of health care setting is quiet good within the UK and the patients can get connected to nurses and health advisors through telephone. Thus in this way the department of health in England is highly attentive and they understand their responsibility towards improving the well being of local citizens.

The health care system of US is also flexible and focused towards the improvement in health standards of country people. As compare to UK in US the role of government is minimized with respect to handle the healthcare industry. In US the private companies operates as they have leverage to control the healthcare system (Leatherman and Sutherland, 2005). The healthcare system in US is highly influenced through entrepreneurial structure and the government doesn’t take guarantee for providing the health facilities. However the health facilities are highly advanced and most importantly the technological advancement, infrastructural and medical facilities are quiet appreciable in US. Similar to UK in US also there are various departments which provide health facilities to the patients and the hierarchy of health professionals is also very wide (Lloyd, Braithwaite and Southon, 1999). The high level of privatization in US health care industry is the main reason behind the high level of expenditure in the per capita income. The apex healthcare body in US is department of health and human services that controls the activities of various sub agencies. The structure of US health care system is segregated into three main categories one is primary care, secondary care and third one is tertiary care. As compare to UK in US the health system has so many layer and complexities are also immense. The role of medical insurance is also very huge within the health care system of US. In UK the role of insurance agencies is not as good as compare to US insurance agencies (Elliott, Hatton and   Emerson, 2003). Thus these are certain differences and similarities in the healthcare system of UK and US. In both the countries the health facilities are good. In one country (UK) the government led from front, on the contrary another country believes in privatization (US) so that the more concrete system could be developed.

Conclusion:
On the basis of above discussion it could be said that the role of government should be immense in managing the most basic need of local citizens. UK government understands their responsibilities and took all the initiative so that the objectives related to healthcare could be achieved properly. On the contrary the entrepreneurial system in US has increased the medical cost for the local people. However US government also has strict policies with respect to control the fraudulent activities and unfair pricing practices so that every category of people can get proper medical facilities. Overall the UK’s healthcare system is good and better as it provide access to each and every section of the society in reasonable expenditure.


References

Elliott, J., Hatton, C. and   Emerson, E., 2003 . The Health of People with Learning Disabilities in the UK: Evidence and Implications for the NHS. Journal of Integrated Care. 11(3). pp.9 – 17.

Johnson, J. and Stoskopf, C., 2010. Comparative Health Systems: Global Perspectives. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Leatherman, S. and Sutherland, K., 2005. The Quest for Quality in the NHS: A Chartbook on Quality of Care in the UK. Radcliffe Publishing. .

Lloyd, P., Braithwaite, J. and Southon, G., 1999. < em> Empowerment and the performance of health services.  Journal of Management in Medicine. 13(2). pp.83 – 94.

Reid, T., 2010. The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care. Penguin.