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Social Inequality In Healthcare

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Healthcare is an essential factor regardless the country. A significant part of a country’s resources are allocated for healthcare. Healthcare is one of the top three financial concerns. The average percentage of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) spent on healthcare has grown from 10.1 in 2011 to 10.2 in 2012, while the highest percentile hit 10.7 in 2009. Despite the dip, an increase is seen in recent years (Health expenditure, total). Taxes, insurance and costs will increase with the rise of national healthcare expenditure (Cohn). Consequently, the income gap between the rich and poor becomes wider, causing inequality. According to a survey conducted by Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the unaffordability of healthcare …show more content…

Wealthy countries don’t amount up to quality healthcare for everybody (Shah, Poverty Around The World). Universal healthcare is health coverage for everyone of the country (Shah, Health Care Around the World). Universal healthcare is not adopted throughout the world. Most developed countries provide universal healthcare with an exception of few, such as United States. United States is considerably a wealthy country with ample real estates, natural resources and trade with other nations. However, not all its residents are healthy. People living in urban areas with stable incomes are able to manage the healthcare charges whereas this impoverishes others in the rural areas …show more content…

For one, when put into comparison with other healthcare financing systems, Singapore has proved to be above average. It functions well; the equity and problems are balanced out, thus drawing a lot of attention internationally (Abeysinghe et al.). As mentioned earlier, Singapore’s healthcare policies are well developed in maintaining the economic stability. Singapore has been channelling less than 4% of its GDP to healthcare. On the contrary, the global health expenditure average is 8% of the GDP (Financing Health Care). The health outcomes have been exceptionally good considering the low amounts pumped in for healthcare. Singapore’s system is the least imperfect in the world according to Mr Jeremy Lin, head of Oliver Wyman & Co’s Asia Pacific health and life sciences practice. The healthcare cost has risen lesser compared to that of other countries such as Hong Kong. The government has healthcare expenditure to accommodate the ageing population (Singapore tops in global healthcare efficiency ranking: Survey). (Data World Bank)

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