Health care systems in U.S, Sweden, Canada, Great Britain and Japan

Health care in the United States is in most cases provided by private sector firms. Most of the health care programs obtain their funds through Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE, Veterans Health Administration and Children Insurance Program. The government provide health insurance for public service (Matcha, 2003).  However, healthcare in Sweden is decentralised and health care funds are primarily acquired from the government. It is managed as national, local and regional level (National Center for Health Statistics (US. 2014).  Ministry of health provides a supervisory role to the lower level as well as allocating grants.

In Great Britain, the health care is devolved system where the government and private sector funds the health care. National Health Service provided most of the health care in England which is publicly funded healthcare system. In addition, private sector is involved in payment of health insurance (Matcha, 2003). In japan, the government caters for 70 % of the healthcare services with the individuals accepting the responsibilities for 30% of the cost. The government offers medical services through universal health care insurance system to ensure equality of access to its citizens National Center for Health Statistics (US. (2014). Hospitals are managed by physicians who operate as non-profit organisations (Matcha, 2003). Profit corporations in healthcare are not allowed to operate in japan.

Health care system in Canada is publicly funded, which is mostly free at the point of use. Most health care services are provided by private entities (Kalleberg, 2011). The federal government sets the guidelines for territorial and provincial administration of health care. Besides, individual in Canada are provided with preventative care and medical treatment (Matcha, 2003). All citizens qualify for the health coverage regardless of medical history, standard of living and personal income.

I think japan has the best health care system because its health services as easily accessible since the government subsidize the cost. Moreover, Japan has the highest life expectancy in the worldwide owing to its health care system.

The United States have not adopted a national health care system like most the countries. The government still finances health care but private sectors are responsible for delivery of the health services (Kalleberg, 2011). The government uses this system because it relies on individual responsibility and commitment in accord with the principle of market justice (Matcha, 2003). This principle view health care as an economic good.  Therefore, rationing depends on the ability of the individual to pay as well as individual responsibility of health.

In addition, market-oriented society supports private rather than governments efforts to solve the social problems in health care (Sommeiller, & Price, 2014). Moreover, through the nation’s culture of capitalism, self-reliance and individual responsibility private health care thrives well in United States. Therefore, health care is viewed as a business just like any other economic goods.

Work place problems

After the great recession in America, the largest employment growth has been experienced from low wage positions. Social security reports on wages indicate that the per capita wage for America is $ 26, 000. Moreover, income inequalities are at the peak since the years prior to Great Depression in United States (Kalleberg, 2011). Therefore, McJobs have dominated in the top 10 occupation field. This is characterised by hard labour coupled with low wages. Cashier, retail sales and food preparation are the most common jobs in the country which are lowing paying jobs. Reports indicate that since the end of great recession, more than 58 % of jobs created have been McJobs.

Unemployment

Unemployment has become the biggest problem in United States according to Gallup poll. The reports show that more than 23 % of the citizens now consider unemployment as the most serious problem facing the country (Kalleberg, 2011). The number of people who believe unemployment is a serious problem has been increasing since in January 2012, only 16 % said the same. In America only 63 % of working-age are employed or are actively looking for a job. This represents the lowest share of labour force in the U.S since 1978 (Sommeiller, & Price, 2014). Moreover, the current unemployment rate which stands at 6.1 % represents the large part of long-term unemployed giving up on looking for jobs. This is due to the fact that the economy is still weak to generate enough jobs for the rising population

References

Matcha, D. (2003). Health Care Systems of the Developed World: How the United States’ System Remains an Outlier (1st ed.). New York: Greenwood Publishing Group.

Kalleberg, A. L. (2011). Good jobs, bad jobs: The rise of polarized and precarious employment systems in the United States, 1970s-2000s. Russell Sage Foundation.

Sommeiller, E., & Price, M. (2014). The Increasingly Unequal States of America.

National Center for Health Statistics (US. (2014). Health, United States, 2013: With Special Feature on Prescription Drugs.