The report also showed that the USA does not provide healthcare to all its citizens. The only exception to it is the South Africa. This lack of coverage is mainly blamed on the endlessly complicated system of insurance for healthcare systems. While the insurance may adequately cover some parts of the society, it completely neglects other sections and portions of the population. This is compounded by the increasing costs of the insurance rates, which is forcing many Americans to withdraw from their insurances altogether.
This serious neglect of people is the principle cause of the early deaths and morbidity and mortality rates in many Americans who are uninsured and who are denied access to care. (University of Maine, 2001) The report placed the USA on the 26th position when it comes to infant mortality rates in the industrialized countries, and 24th on DALE or disability-adjusted life expectancy. As far as fairness in financing is concerned, the USA ranks as the lowest among all the OECD countries. This fairness is evident by the increased morbidity and mortality rates that are seen in persons who are uninsured or are very poor.
The US healthcare system ranked 15th in the overall attainment in the world and 37th in the world for performance. Only 40 percent of the USA population is satisfied with the healthcare system; a trend that has been persistent since the nineties. (University of Maine, 2001) The only good performance that was reported by WHO was America’s responsiveness to its patients needs. This means that Americans healthcare providers are the most responsive to the client and patients’ needs and requirements. But even this is not so up beating when considering the number of Americans who have no access to healthcare at all.
The responsiveness ranking therefore, does not ease any minds of the Americans. (University of Maine, 2001) The WHO health report has shown a very grim picture of the healthcare system that makes America today. The statistics show almost all of the problems that a health care system can have when spending huge amounts of money with no forethought or future planning. The rates continue till today, with no significant efforts taking place to change the situation. Studies have also shown the disparity in the distribution of care within Americans.
While some may have almost no access what so ever to the healthcare system, others may be subjected to unnecessary treatments that lead to loss of resources with no significant or appreciable gains. Similarly, the recent methods and treatment strategies in most cases remain the same, where prescription of drugs is still carried out for conditions that have been rendered ineffective for that particular use. (Hohman, 2005) The most recent reports of OECD launched in 2006, also looks in to the many issues and facets of the American healthcare system.
The report stated a significantly high GDP expenditure in healthcare carried out by America than the OECD countries. Similarly, like in the past the total per capita spending of America in health amounts to approximately 6,100 USD, which is double the amount of OECD average of 2004. The USA has shown a gradual increase in the expenditure related to pharmaceuticals, but falls short of the OECD countries when it comes to the public funding in health spending. (OECD Health Data, 2006)
Other disparities revealed included the least numbers of physicians per 1,000 populations, which is in stark contrast to the increased spending done on the healthcare system. Same was the case with the nursing recruitment, although the severity was lower. The number of acute healthcare beds has also fallen. The life expectancy rates and infant mortality rates of America are lower than the OECD countries. Although the USA shows a significant reduction rates in the smoking cessation, it still shows the highest numbers in the obesity among its citizens. (OECD Health Data, 2006)