The differences between European healthcare systems and the American healthcare system are many. When you compare these two groups then the first thing you must realize is that there are many variations among European healthcare systems but they have enough in common to do a surface comparison between their aims and applications and the matching aims and applications of the American healthcare system. Here are some of the differences.
Universal Healthcare
Europe aims for universal healthcare. This means that every individual is meant to have healthcare coverage by virtue of their being a resident of a particular country. This is not to say that the healthcare is free. It is paid for through taxes and such but ends up being far cheaper for all involved.
This is apparent when you look at how much the US spends on healthcare per capita as compared to other countries and when you start looking at individual accounts. While this latter type of evidence may be of the anecdotal nature it is still important to look at. It illustrates exactly what is happening when you get away from the abstract figures.
Individual Expense
In fact, individual expense in Europe is a big part of better care. Clearly, with universal health care of one form or another, residents in Europe pay less. In the US people are afraid to get sick because one illness could bankrupt them.
Health Before Profits
This is more than a slogan for European healthcare. It is a philosophy. While in the US healthcare is often first and foremost a business, in Europe it is the health and care of individuals that is top priority. In the US healthcare is run like a business attempting to create as much in the way of profits as possible.
Such a goal is a clear reason why the actual healthcare that is delivered is of poor quality. In Europe the system is run so that people stay healthy, almost as though they are attempting to make healthcare a non-profit enterprise. Medications cost less, doctors are paid less, and the whole system requires less money to run even as people receive better care.
Efficiency
The European system of healthcare is also much more efficient. It is not uncommon for people in the US to spend hours waiting in an emergency room attempting to get some medical care while the wait in Europe is typically much shorter. In fact, many places in Europe have doctors who still make house calls and who do so without any significant delays.
Quality Of Care
The quality of the care provided is better in Europe. This has been shown time and again by studies. The American healthcare system is inferior based on this fact and based on how much more money goes into this inferior healthcare the American healthcare system just becomes embarrassing.
European healthcare systems are different than American healthcare because they focus on providing care and not on making money. This simple change in perspective creates a system where efforts are put toward preventing illness, treating illness, and caring for people. Who would try to make their fortunes off of people who need medical care to be healthy and even off those who need it just to stay alive?
T.R. Heinecker writes on how to enroll in a master of global health program.