Background
The nation chosen for this study is Austria. The Austrian health system is one of the unique health systems in the world. The approach in which Austria has chosen to handle its health matters has proven a success so far. The major challenge of health care systems across the globe is accessibility. The Austrian health care system has been successful in overcoming this challenge, and today all people in Austria have access to quality health care regardless of their status (Johnson & Stoskopf, 2010). These facts make the Austrian health care system worthy of studying.
Health Statistics and Cost
Austria
Austria spends around ten percent of its gross domestic product on health. The mortality rate in the country has reduced significantly over the last few years. Statistics indicate that deaths occur at 0.2 rates for a standard population of a thousand people. The main cause of death in Austria is heart disease, kidney problems, and cancer. The life expectancy for men is seventy-nine and a half years while that of women is eighty-four years in Austria (Hofmarcher & Quentin, 2013).
America
America spends twenty percent of its gross domestic product on health issues. The life expectancy for men is seventy-six years while that of women is eighty-one in America. The major causes of death in the country include heart disease, kidney issues, and suicide. The mortality rate in America is quite high, especially among the poor and middle-class people who lack insurance covers.
Health Care Financing
Austria
The public through taxes and levies finance the health care system in Austria. The nation offers free public health care services to all its citizens regardless of class and status. The free public service in Austria enables all the citizens to acquire necessary medical covers thus improving health. However, the government allows citizens who achieve a certain threshold to get private covers. According to Johnson & Stoskopf (2010), private covers in Austria allow citizens to choose the kind and nature of service to acquire, and from which institution.
America
America uses both the private and public sectors to fund the health care system. However, the system relies on private funding more than it does rely on the public segment. People acquire insurance coverage through their employers in America. The employer pays a certain premium on behalf of the employee to the service provider of his choice. In other words, in America, the private sector of health does not allow people the freedom of choice. The government provides subsidized fees for older people or the people below the poverty line (Bowsher, 2011).
Health Care Administration
Austria
The Austrian government has a ministry of health that handles health care matters. The ministry ensures equal distribution of health care services to citizens through the Medicare system. Additionally, the ministry provides directives to private insurers to prevent the overcharging of citizens by private service providers. In addition, the Austrian government operates in a system of social justice that entitles all people to primary health care. To ensure that the centralized system does not collapse financially, the ministry encourages people who earn a certain amount of money to enroll in private care (Willis, Reynolds & Keleher, 2012).
America
America does not have a centralized office or a legislature to run its health care system. According to Bowsher (2011), the private sector dominates the health care system of America; for this reason, the government has less to no jurisdiction in matters of health. Different segments of the American law allow Health Care Private Institution’s freedom of operation. However, Medicaid and Medicare systems help in controlling the service provision in the private sector.
Health Care Personnel and Facilities
Austria
Austria has a significant number of health care facilities and personnel to cover the needs of the citizens. Public health care facilities are many as well to allow effective and efficient health care delivery to the public. The ministry of health ensures the even distribution of both personnel and health facilities in the nation.
America
America has fewer health personnel as compared to other nations of similar status. Private owners dominate the health industry in America owning the majority of the health care facilities in the country. The rural areas of the nation are unattended because the health personnel considers such areas unproductive financially and career-wise (Willis et al., 2012).
Access and Inequality Issues
Austria
Issues of inequality in health care do not exist in Austria. People in Austria have equal access to health care regardless of class, gender, and status. Additionally, all people in Austria have hospital covers that guarantee them free medical checkup and follow-ups at all times. The private sector as well allows people to make choices regarding their health.
America
On the other hand, health care services in America are quite discriminating because only the rich can afford the insurance covers. The financial ability of a person determines their level of access to health care services in America. The majority of the people are uninsured; especially the minorities who do not have direct access to the nation’s wealth (Bowsher, 2011).
References
Bowsher, J. (2011). Educating voters for rebuilding America with national goals and a balanced budget in this decade. Bloomington, Ind: iUniverse Inc.
Hofmarcher, M. & Quentin, W. (2013). Austria: health system review. Health syst transit, 15 (7), 1-292.
Johnson, J. & Stoskopf, C. (2010). Comparative health systems: global perspectives. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Willis, E., Reynolds, L. & Keleher, H. (2012). Understanding the Australian health care system. Chatswood, N.S.W: Churchill Livingstone.