Comparing the different healthcare systems around the world helps in creating a clearer perspective about the strengths and weaknesses of the different countries. When comparing Canada with Japan, it was seen that Canada spent more GDP amount on the healthcare than Japan, which were 9. 5% and 7. 6% respectively in the year 1998. The United States spent a higher GDP at this point which was 13. 6% at the time. The figures and facts may have put America on the fore front, but a closer inspection revealed that amongst the three countries, the Japanese were the healthiest nation, second Canada and last came America.
(Evans and Barer, 2001) Similarly when comparing the satisfaction levels in different countries, Canada was on the top as reported by Blendon in 1990. This satisfaction rate was higher than that of Japan. (Evans and Barer, 2001) The satisfaction level however, continues to decline worldwide, and now the notion of being superior in terms of patient satisfaction is losing its lustre. This is because every country has shown a decline in the overall satisfaction level and there have not been very recent examples that have shown any up hill trends.
Blendon et al conducted a study in 2002 where he compared the satisfaction levels of five countries regarding healthcare. (Blendon et al, 2002) The countries included Canada, America, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia. The study showed that the trends of dissatisfaction in Canada although were very high in the earlier days, however after the nineties this satisfaction level started to decrease, to the point that now Canadians are almost as dissatisfied with their system than other countries. Mostly the negative comments came from those people who belonged to the below average income groups.
In all the countries, it was these groups that claimed a complete changing and rebuilding of the healthcare system. This dissatisfaction was more prominent among the Americans than the others. (Blendon et al, 2002) In all the cases, the correspondents did not report any access problems to healthcare, but those with below average incomes did report a gradual worsening of their access conditions. The U. S correspondents were more likely to report access problems due to cost. The only exception in the case was Canada.
The overall conclusions that were obtained were that all countries displayed dissatisfaction with their current healthcare system, and wanted substantial changes in the healthcare delivery. Dissatisfaction was most seen in Canada during 1990 and 1998 when Canada reduced its cost in national health spending and reduced its hospital inpatient capacity in those years. Lack of insurance and insurance controls were one of the main reasons that the U. S citizens found difficulty accessing specialist physicians. Inequities were seen in all countries except in the United Kingdom.
The financial barriers were the main deterrents of healthcare for the American citizens who when compared to the rest of the countries had to wait the least time for any elective surgeries. Similarly Americans reported having the most difficulty in paying their medical bills. (Blendon et al, 2002) Mozes in 2006 reported that the Canadians are much healthier than Americans. (Mozes, 2006) He reported that despite the nearly double amount of costs that America places in its healthcare system, the Canadians show better life expectancies and lifestyles than Americans.
The survey found that Canadians had a higher smoking rate than Americans, but Americans are most likely to be inactive and obese. This is the reason why the Americans were at a greater risk of developing different health problems. When comparing with the Canadians, Americans are “one third less likely to have a regular doctor, two times less likely to take needed medications and one fourth more likely to have unmet health care needs than Canadians.
” (Mozes, 2006) The Americans are more likely to have problems with costs and consequently difficulty in accessing care, the Canadians are more likely to be troubled with the long waiting times in their need for care. Despite all this, it still cannot be said that the Canadians were particularly satisfied with their healthcare system. This was opposite to the views of the Americans, who reported more satisfaction with their delivery of care than the Canadians. This satisfaction however, was different for both the countries in different departments.
Canadians were more happy with their physicians where as the Americans were more happy with hospital and community based facilities. While there are some areas where America precedes Canada, it falls significantly behind when it comes to caring for the uninsured segment. This is evident by the surveys that repeatedly show that uninsured Americans experienced more difficulties and dissatisfaction from the healthcare system, when comparing them to their insured counterparts. Racial discrepancies were more found in the American health care system than the Canadian.
(Mozes, 2006) Inferences The current healthcare systems around the world are in a dire need of change. Whether these are any underdeveloped countries or countries that are at the peak of healthcare, all face the same problem. It is only a matter of time that the current healthcare systems will fail. The reason is the simple lack of management and foresight that has been placed in the future planning of healthcare, and negligence towards improving the outcomes. (Adams et al, 2006) The reasons for these problems are internal i. e.
within the healthcare system, and external. While factors such as technological advancement and understanding of diseases is visible, there are factors such as the rising costs , decreasing quality of healthcare provision, and poor access that are steadily increasing with time. Added to these are the external factors of globalization, consumerism, and demographic shifts, increased prevalence of disease and increasing and maintaining costs of the newer technological instruments. Most of these mentioned factors are ignored within the healthcare policy systems.
Should this continue there is more chance of failure of the healthcare systems around the world? (Adams et al, 2006) The problems presented simply will not go away by increasing expenditure. This can be clearly demonstrated by the example of America, which although is one of the biggest spenders in the world in healthcare, still does not come into the top twenty international healthcare systems of the world. Other such similar examples are Canada and China, where expenditure may be more, but the results and issues are still the same.
These problems if not resolved are here to stay and their effects will be visible within a decade. (Adams et al, 2006) Another reason why the healthcare system fails to improve despite awareness is its refusal to change. The healthcare systems become tied down by many factors that are currently at play. These include the “financial constraints, counterproductive societal expectations and norms, the lack of alignment in incentives, short term thinking, and the inability to access and share critical information within the healthcare systems.
” (Adams et al. Pp. 3) In case of America the surveys and the recent statistics all point towards one possible solution. That America should now change and divert its health insurance policy and healthcare in to a universal health coverage system. (Mozes, 2006) Most of the Americans feel that if the financial issues of the health care system are better handled, there is no other system better than the American system in the provision of healthcare. (Mozes, 2006)
While the Canadians may have more satisfaction with regards to healthcare facility, it does not guarantee them that all services will be met in time. The competition for healthcare is intense amongst the Canadians, and that too comes at a price. It must be understood that every Canadian puts an average of 46% of his income in taxes. The Americans are in worry about their healthcare system because with time the insurance and costs have increased dynamically, making it difficult for them to retain their insurances.
This is the reason why a growing majority of Americans do not have health insurance, and consequently are under much stress about their future. Despite the difficulties that Canada may have in the provision of healthcare, it still can be used as a role model for America in reforming itself. There is currently much debate about changing the manner of healthcare delivery in America, and some stress on America to adapt to the Canadian system. What steps America will take remains to be seen. (Grove, 2006)