A Comparative Analysis of the Health Care System in France vs. the United States
A Comparative Analysis of the Health Care System in France vs the United States
Introduction
Everyone would agree that a good health system, above all, must contribute to good health. It is certainly not considered acceptable to protect or improve the average health of the population, if at the same time inequality worsens or remains high because the gain accrues disproportionately to those already enjoying better health. The responsibility of a health care system is also to reduce inequalities to race, gender, social status and religion. While the United States is considered a world leader in almost any category they are judged; however, the US healthcare system remains one of the worst. This analysis will compare the US health system with that of the French. Their health system is worth comparing because they are considered a world leader when it comes to their healthcare system. Population and Health Status
Rated “the best health system in the world” by the World Health Organization in 2000, the French Health Care System serves more than 65 million individuals (French Health Care System). Dutton summarizes statistics compiled from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2005 detailing the population to include more than 16% over 65 years of age with a life expectancy of 79 years of age. He goes on to explore the mortality and morbidity rates. In 2003, the infant mortality rate was four per 1000 live births. And, interestingly it was reported that 26% of the population 15 years and older consumed tobacco products daily and 9.4% of the total population were obese. (Dutton, 2007, p.7)
The comparative summary of the same data for the United States shows that while the American population is quite a bit larger at more than 293 million individuals, the life expectancy is shorter at 77 years of age, and the infant mortality rate is greater at 6.9 per 1000 live births. The United States population has a much higher
Introduction
Everyone would agree that a good health system, above all, must contribute to good health. It is certainly not considered acceptable to protect or improve the average health of the population, if at the same time inequality worsens or remains high because the gain accrues disproportionately to those already enjoying better health. The responsibility of a health care system is also to reduce inequalities to race, gender, social status and religion. While the United States is considered a world leader in almost any category they are judged; however, the US healthcare system remains one of the worst. This analysis will compare the US health system with that of the French. Their health system is worth comparing because they are considered a world leader when it comes to their healthcare system. Population and Health Status
Rated “the best health system in the world” by the World Health Organization in 2000, the French Health Care System serves more than 65 million individuals (French Health Care System). Dutton summarizes statistics compiled from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2005 detailing the population to include more than 16% over 65 years of age with a life expectancy of 79 years of age. He goes on to explore the mortality and morbidity rates. In 2003, the infant mortality rate was four per 1000 live births. And, interestingly it was reported that 26% of the population 15 years and older consumed tobacco products daily and 9.4% of the total population were obese. (Dutton, 2007, p.7)
The comparative summary of the same data for the United States shows that while the American population is quite a bit larger at more than 293 million individuals, the life expectancy is shorter at 77 years of age, and the infant mortality rate is greater at 6.9 per 1000 live births. The United States population has a much higher
References: Dutton, P. (2007). Differential Diagnoses: A Comparative History of Health Care Problems and Solutions in the United States and France. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press French Health Care System. http://ambafrance-us.org/spip.php?article625