Introduction
Healthcare systems in the United States and France are peculiar for the implementation of the latest technologies and theoretic findings. France is an international leader of in the field of the healthcare. However, both systems still face a number of complicated issues such as the growing number of the aged people that need intensified care. Overall, the evaluation of facts suggests a conclusion that the French healthcare system is more balanced and more effective than the US system, while the US system is characterized by the absence of insurance coverage for more than 15 percent of the country population and high healthcare costs.
Health Statistics and Costs: Comparison between U.S. and France
In the United States, life expectancy is 74.3 for the male population and 81.7 for the female population (Hatz, 2008). The percentage of the aged population (over 65) is 19.7 percent (Hatz, 2008). Infant mortality is 7.4 per 1000 people (Skolnick, 2012). Health expenditures are $2.3 trillion US dollars which is 16 percent of GDP (Hatz, 2008). Major illnesses are cancer, stroke, diabetes, heart diseases, and mental disorders (Hatz, 2008).
In France, life expectancy is 76.1 for the male population and 83.6 for the female population (“France pharmaceuticals & healthcare report”, 2011). The percentage of the aged population (over 65) is 16.4 percent (“France pharmaceuticals & healthcare report”, 2011). Infant mortality is 4.21 per 1000 people (“France pharmaceuticals & healthcare report”, 2011). Health expenditures per capita are $2763 US dollars which is 9.7 percent of GDP (“France pharmaceuticals & healthcare report”, 2011). Major illnesses are heart diseases and cancer (Roth, 2010).
Health Care Financing: Comparison between U.S. and France
The US healthcare system is financed from both the public sector and the private sector. At that, the private sector compiles the biggest part of the healthcare budget in the form of employer-sponsored insurance and individual insurance. Due to the rising costs of insurance, a growing number of people cannot afford regular healthcare. This problem has become a burning issue in American society in the current period (Skolnick, 2012).
The finding of the French healthcare system is exercised via the mixed system, in which 60 percent is financed by the citizens in the form of obligatory taxing, and 40 percent come from indirect taxing on tobacco and alcohol, private insurance funds, and a variety of public organizations (Roth, 2010).
Healthcare Administration: Comparison between U.S. and France
In the United States, the healthcare system is regulated through the governmental organizations of the central, intermediate, and local levels. Correspondingly, these organizations are the Ministry of Health, varied directorates o health, and the local healthcare units (Hatz, 2008). The work is organized by the above-mentioned institutions in multiple areas including direct healthcare, educational programs, and preventive medicine and healthcare (Skolnick, 2012).
French healthcare system is run by the Ministry of Health that exercise its control in the field through the two subordinate organizations controlling general health management and hospital management, 22 regional level specialized organizations, and 96 departmental level service organizations (Roth, 2010). At each level, healthcare professionals promote people’s health by means of direct health care and preventive arrangements (Roth, 2010).
Health Care Personnel and Facilities: Comparison between U.S. and France
The lack of sufficiently trained healthcare personnel is becoming a considerable difficulty in the US healthcare system. The most complicated situation is seen in connection to the nursing professionals due to the low payments (Hatz, 2008). In addition, in a number of states, the lack of primary care and specialty physicians has been observed.
In France, the healthcare system has a sufficient supply of highly qualified medical professionals. In particular, over 1.2 million employees are occupied in the sector; more than 186,000 physicians extend help to the citizens, and a vast number of qualified specialists enter the country job market from other EU countries attracted by high payments (Roth, 2010).
Access and Inequality Issues: Comparison between U.S. and France
The US healthcare system is considerably weakened by disparities in access to medical care. Since over 47 million people are restricted from normal care due to the absence of insurance, they are at the high risk of morbidity and mortality. Moreover, healthcare disparities have been identified on the ground of racial/ethnic, language, and gender differences. Social differences also become the reasons why some population groups become restricted from medical insurance (Hatz, 2008).
The French healthcare system is internationally renowned for effective work with inequality and disparity issues. According to Roth (2010), all categories of French citizens have an access to healthcare.
References
France pharmaceuticals & healthcare report – Q4 2011. (2011). Business Monitor International.
Hatz, C. (2008). Global health care: Issues and policies. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Roth, M. (2010). Liberty, solidarity, fairness: A personal view of the French healthcare system. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 19(3), 329-33.
Skolnick, R. (2012). Global Health 101, (2nd ed). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.