Healthcare Systems Around the Globe

Healthcare Systems Around the Globe

Introduction

Different countries all over the world have various demands for particular services. Healthcare is not an exception. I have chosen the healthcare of the USA and Norway for comparison as they are two highly developed countries with the top quality services in different spheres. Being aware of the situation with the healthcare of the USA, I predicted that the healthcare services in Norway are also on a high level. The main idea of this report is to compare and contrast the healthcare systems in the USA and Norway with the purpose to consider the health statistics and costs, healthcare financing, administration, personnel and facilities, and access and inequality issues.

Health Statistics and Costs: Comparison between U.S. and Norway

According to the US profile, the share of GDP was 15.3% in 2004 with health expenditures per capita $6,100. The USA was one of the festers growth rates with 5% spending most finances on pharmaceuticals ($752 per capita in 2004). The life expectancies and mortality rates are high. The predicted life expectancy is 74-80. Considering the diseases, the USA has three top illnesses, hardening of the heart arteries, pneumonia, and congestive heart failure (Global health in developing countries, n.d.). The total population in Norway is 4,812,000 and the gross national income per capita is $59,250. The life expectancy at birth is 79-83. The total expenditure on health per capita was $5,395 in 2009 which comprises 9.7% of GDP (Norway, 2012)Healthcare Systems Around the Globe.

Health Care Financing: Comparison between U. S. and Norway

Healthcare in the USA is financed both by private and public sectors, however, private financing is much higher. The financing is mostly provided using private insurance. Hospital charges comprise 1/3 of the total healthcare costs (Global health in developing countries, n.d.). The financing of healthcare in Norway is provided by the government of the country and particularly by the Ministry of Health and Care Services.

Healthcare Administration: Comparison between U. S., and Norway

The healthcare administration in the USA is provided via Medicaid and Medicare. Healthcare administration in Norway is completed by the Department of Public Health in the Ministry of Health and Care Services (Ministry of Health and Care Services, n.d.). The legal aspects in Norway’s healthcare are solved using the Department of Health Legislation.

Health Care Personnel and Facilities: Comparison between U. S. and Norway

Medicare deals with the insurance of the population aged 65 and older. One part of this division also deals with hospitalization and nursing charges, while another part deals with physicians and laboratories (Global health in developing countries, n.d.). Norway has one department, the Department of Public Health in the Ministry of Health and Care Services, which deals with the facilities. The personnel is hired by the hospitals and other departments individually (Ministry of Health and Care Services, n.d.).

Access and Inequality Issues: Comparison between U. S. and Norway

The healthcare system in the USA has experienced the greatest changes recently. Healthcare insurance plays a vital role as the absence of insurance means either refusal to have treatment or much greater expenses (Global health in developing countries, n.d.). The Norway government is responsible for offering equal services for all populations despite age or diagnosis. Equal framework conditions are guaranteed through legislation and do not give any financial framework for different layers of the population. Healthcare Systems Around the Globe