Nationalized Healthcare Systems

Universal health care is health care system that is applicable to all eligible residents of a governmental region and often covers medical, dental, and mental health care. These programs vary in their structure and funding mechanisms. Typically, most costs are met via single-payer health care system or national health insurance, or else by compulsory regulated pluralist insurance (public, private or mutual) meeting certain regulated standards. Universal health care is implemented in most wealthy, industrialized countries, with the exception of the United States. It is also provided in many developing countries and is the trend worldwide.

India has a universal health care system run by the local (state or territorial), governments. The government hospitals, some of which are among the best hospitals in India, provide treatment at taxpayer expense. Most drugs are offered free of charge in these hospitals. In some government hospitals expenses are only for the medicines bought, the doctor's fees is also exempted.

Most government hospitals do not need payment from people below the poverty line, proof of citizenship or residency. Government hospitals in some many of the country and some private non-profit (including teaching) hospitals charge a very small fee. Most hospitals are operated on an annual budget allocated by the government, and do not rely on individual billing. These hospitals also provide better amenities (such as private air-conditioned rooms) if the patient can afford to pay. However, they charge less than comparable private hospitals.

Primary health care is provided by city and district hospitals and rural primary health centers. These hospitals provide treatment free of cost. Primary care is focused on immunization, prevention of malnutrition, pregnancy, child birth, postnatal care, and treatment of common illnesses. The primary health centers are staffed by general practitioners (primary care physicians), nurses and midwives trained in labour and delivery. Patients who receive specialized care or have complicated illnesses are referred to secondary and tertiary care hospitals (located in district and state headquarters or those that are teaching hospitals). These health care organizations benefit the society largely because often people below poverty line cannot afford expensive treatments. These non profit organizations help in building a healthy society by helping people in need.

Now organizations like Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotional Trust and other private organizations have started creating hospitals and clinics in India, which also provide free or subsidized health care and subsidized insurance plans.

Widespread health care is a wide concept that has been implemented in several ways. The common denominator for all such programs is some form of government action aimed at extending access to health care as widely as possible and setting minimum standards. Most implement universal health care through legislation, regulation and taxation. Legislation and regulation direct what care must be provided, to whom, and on what basis. Usually some costs are borne by the patient at the time of consumption but the bulk of costs come from a combination of compulsory insurance and tax revenues. Some programs are paid for entirely out of tax revenues. In some cases, government involvement also includes directly managing the health care system, but many countries use mixed public-private systems to deliver universal health care.

• Janny Raines
• 31/03/2009, 4:59 PM
• 0 Comments