Should US Adopt an ‘NHS’ System or Stick to Private Sector
Should US Adopt an ‘NHS’ System or Stick to Private Sector
Advantages vs Disadvantages of Privatisation
It has been in the news recently to do with America wanting to update their health care system and today there was debate going on to whether or not a Public Sector Health Care System like the NHS is better compared to a privatised health care sector.
Rhys Gregory Examines:
Advantages of Public Sector – (Government Health Care System)
- It allows people who cannot afford health care to receive it.
- It’s ethical and humane to do so.
- Expensive treatments and operations are already paid for.
Disadvantages
- It’s costly to the Government.
- The Government may have to increase taxes to in order to supplement the cost of running the health care system.
- People that do not use it still pay for it.
- Many argue that money and time is wasted through inefficiency.
Notes
- NHS still charges for prescriptions depending on circumstances etc. This is good because the people that cannot afford to pay don’t pay.
- There’s still a private sector in the UK and people do have the option of health insurance and paying privately for treatment.
Private Sector Health Care – (Privately Owned Health Care System)
Advantages
- Many argue that because businesses are run for a profit they will be more efficiently managed.
- There can possibly be more investment in new medical equipment.
- The Best staff can be hired by offering higher wage rates.
Disadvantages
- If the business isn’t profitable then it will go under provided (like many other merit goods) and there may not be a service to offer.
- Only available to the people that can afford it.
- May damage the long-term infrastructure of the economy if a large proportion (50 million people in the US) cannot afford health care, people become sick and die. Shows that the country is less economically developed. Possible lower life expectancy.
Personal Conclusion
- Every business wastes resources including both public and private sector businesses. You just need the right staff to be able to ensure efficiency of any business.
- Public Health system is not capped and patients usually find £100’s of thousands of pounds are spent on people’s treatment.
- It’s a fair system to have a public sector health care system.
- In the UK health care system you also have the option to go private.
- A part of me feels it’s unfair for people to pay for a system they don’t use but at the end of the day, we’ll use it at some point and we’re all nice people and people that cannot afford to be pain free do deserve it.
- Public Health sector does its best to ensure investment in new technology and if it’s still not good enough for you then you can go private.
