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Introduction
A health care system is an arrangement in which stakeholders come together to mobilize resources to improve health. It involves quality service delivery by an effective and sufficient workforce. This can only be realized through effective funding, planning, and fair distribution of health care resources (Basu, et al., 2012). This paper will analyze the state of health care services in low and middle-income countries. It will identify steps that can be followed to improve the quality and efficiency of the health care services provided.
Parts of a Health care system
First is the primary health care in which patients meet a physician in the first instance and, is common among the high-income countries. Secondary health care involves specialized care in which patients receive services for defined health conditions. They include surgery and other procedures which may not be offered by primary healthcare providers. Tertiary health care focuses on health conditions and illnesses with high-level diagnostics, sensitive treatments and surgical operations (Skolnik & Skolnik, 2012).
A Comparison
The US’s health care system is similar to that of the United Kingdom. Both countries encourage private and public funding. However, the US’s system is based on the ability of a person to pay for the health care services. Germany has a universal program in which the system facilitates funding for the health care services without direct involvement. This system is regulated by the government (Skolnik & Skolnik, 2012).
According to the global health observatory, some countries spent as low as 2.4% and others as high as 80% of their total expenditure on the health. This is attributed to the development of insurance schemes. Countries with highly developed insurance schemes spent less on health services while those without proper insurance schemes spent more (Skolnik & Skolnik, 2012).
Health care services in low and middle-income countries
Private expenditure on health care services is more than the public expenditure in low and middle-income countries. This is attributed to poor staffing and the limited resources available. Unlike high-income countries where patients can access physicians readily in public health institutions, most of the employers and employees have to contribute for health insurance for them to access quality health care (Skolnik & Skolnik, 2012).
Governing health systems in low and middle-income countries
In low and middle-income countries, health has been addressed as a human right. Quality health care services improve health and this promotes socio-economic development. It ensures that the communities can access affordable and reliable health care services. Thus, health systems are expected to provide good health and meet the society’s health expectations, as well as fair financial contribution (Sachs, 2012).
Human resource challenges to low and middle-income countries
Skolnik & Skolnik (2012), observes that the number of trained physicians does not match the demand for health care services. Patients’ first point of contact is the medical assistants, nurses and other low-level staff. On other occasions, multipurpose workers are employed to serve a bigger number of patients. Unlike high-income countries which have sufficient trained physicians, these countries are forced to use private payments to finance their health care services.
Epidemiologic and demographic issues in health systems
Health systems are experiencing higher costs of operation due to the growing number of the aged population who require increased medical services. Another issue is the limited number of medical personnel serving large populations; this poses a challenge to the governments in ensuring that the health needs of the communities are met (Skolnik & Skolnik, 2012).
According to Bhatia & Rifkin (2010), concentrating on preventive health care services reduces the number of health issues experienced by the populations. Encouraging communities to seek health insurance also promotes effective health care (Sekhri & Savedoff, 2005).
Conclusion
Quality health care is a basic requirement that is indirectly related to social and economic development. Low and middle-income countries should involve the society members in health system planning. This includes preventive health care and individual financial contribution through proper health insurance schemes.
References
Basu, S. et al., (2012).Comparative Performance of Private and Public Healthcare Systems in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Systematic Review. PLOS Med, 9(6).
Bhatia M. & Rifkin S. (2010). A Renewed Focus on Primary Health Care: Revitalize or Reframe? Globalization and Health, 6(13).
Sachs, J. D. (2012). Primary Health Care in Low-Income Countries, Building on recent achievements. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 307(19), 2031-2032.
Sekhri, N. & Savedoff, W. (2005 ). Private Health Insurance: Implications for Developing Countries. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 83(2), 127–34.
Skolnik, R. L., & Skolnik, R. L. (2012). Global health 101. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
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