An effective health care system provides quality health care needs of a country’s population. Various countries have devised a variety of health-care systems that suit the target population that a country is aiming at. According to the World Health Organization, the goals of a health care system should be to promote good health, fair financial contributions and responsible policies (W.H.O, 2000). Even though financial constraints exist, a good health care system should meet the health care needs of a population because it promotes good health and improves people’s living standards.
The issue of financing a health care system is the most difficult in ensuring that a population enjoys the benefits of an effective health care system. According to Shannon (2004), a government has a variety of choices to choose from in determining how to fund the system. Shannon points out that the government can directly fund the system from the taxes it collects, through insurance, donations or through voluntary contributions of the population. He also argues that whichever method a government chooses, it should be fair to the population (Shannon, 2004)
The right to health care for the population has elicited heated debates. Some have argued from the perspective that health care is only a fundamental right if you one can afford it. Others have tried to link the formulation of health care policies being directly dependent on the available resources (Weisstub and Pinto’s, 2007). Many governments including the USA have been reluctant to formulate clear-cut health care policies, the reasoning being that a comprehensive health care policy for the entire population depends on the scarce resources of the country. By this, it means that some governments do not see health care as a matter of priority.
Although some countries do not view a comprehensive health care policy for the population as vital, some have taken the initiative and made health care successful. One such country is France. According to a report carried out in 2000 by the World Health Organization, France emerged as one of the country that has the best health care system in the world. France has geared most of its efforts to providing effective health care policies for its population. Some of the stringent measures that the government of France has incorporated in its policies include insurance coverage to its entire population, high quality health care providers and giving patients freedom to choose the best alternatives for themselves (W.H.O, 2000).
Although there may be financial constraints, countries should strive to give their population comprehensive health-care plans. Health care is a right to every human being and governments should strive to ensure that the population enjoys the benefits of an effective and fair health care system. The private sector should also be involved in helping the government and other stakeholders in realizing the goals of a comprehensive health care system for the entire population. The public also has a task in ensuring the success of a health care system. One of the ways the public can benefit is by getting involved with the government and various health care agencies to air their opinions about how the government can provide for them an effective health care system.
References:
Shannon, T.A. (2004). Health care policy: a reader. New York: Rowman & Littlefield
“The world health report 2000- Health systems: improving performance”. World Health Organization. Retrieved on September 14, 2010. From https://www.who.int/whr/2000/en/
Weisstub, D. N., & Pintos, G. D. (2007).Autonomy and Human Rights in Health Care: An International Perspective. Dordrecht: Springer