TEST 1

Health care systems in different parts of the world

A health care system is the organization of people, institutions, and resources to deliver health care

services to meet the health needs of target populations.

To begin with, The United States is alone among developed nations in not having a universal

health care system; the recent Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provides for a

nationwide health insurance exchange by 2014. Medicare covers the elderly and disabled with a

historical work record, Medicaid is available for some, but not all of the poor,[69] and the State

Children's Health Insurance Program covers children of low-income families. The Veterans Health

Administration directly provides health care to U.S. military veterans through a nationwide

network of government hospitals; while active duty service members, retired service members and

their dependents are eligible for benefits through TRICARE.

The four countries of the United Kingdom have separate but co-operating public health care

systems that were created in 1948: in England the public health system is known as the National

Health Service, in Scotland it is known as NHS Scotland, in Wales as NHS Wales (GIG Cymru),

and in Northern Ireland it is called Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland. All four provide

state-paid healthcare to all UK residents, paid for from general taxation. Though the public

systems dominate, private health care and a wide variety of alternative and complementary

treatments are available for those who have private health insurance or are willing to pay directly

themselves.

The main difference between the four public health care systems is the patient cost for

prescriptions. Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have recently abolished, or are in the process

of abolishing, all prescription charges, while England (with the exception of birth control pills,

which are paid for by the state) continues to charge patients who are between 16 and 60 years old a

fixed prescription fee of £7.40 per item, unless they are exempt because of certain medical

conditions (including cancer) or are on low income.

In Australia the current system, known as Medicare, was instituted in 1984. It coexists with a

private health system. All legal permanent residents are entitled to government-paid public hospital

care. Medicare is funded partly by a 1.5% income tax levy (with exceptions for low-income

earners), but mostly out of general revenue. An additional levy of 1% is imposed on high-income

earners without private health insurance. As well as Medicare, there is a separate Pharmaceutical

Benefits Scheme under which listing and a government subsidy is dependent on expert evaluation

of the comparative cost-effectiveness of new pharmaceuticals.

Moldova has a low standard of state funded healthcare. Healthcare in the country is available to all

citizens and registered long-term residents. The Ministry of Health oversees the health service in

the country and all citizens are entitled by law to equal access to a minimum amount of free

healthcare. Whilst there are a small number of private GP practices, there are no private clinics or

hospitals. Medicines are in short supply; shortages exist for antibiotics, anesthetics, analgesics,

medicine to treat tuberculosis and drugs used in oncology amongst others.