Discussion Board #2 – 400/500 words
Please describe and compare the financing and organization of the healthcare delivery system in
a country of your choice with that of the healthcare delivery system in the United States. Key
points in this discussion includes: A thorough discussion of governments role, financing/funding,
who/what is covered, how it is organized, how it is accessed, quality, disparities, cost, integrated,
etc.
The financing and organization for the healthcare delivery system in Sweden and the
United States are very different from each other. Sweden’s healthcare delivery system covers all
legal residents and is nationally regulated and locally administered. The financing and “funding
comes primarily from regional – and municipal – level taxes. Grants are also provided by the
central government”.1 This means that health care is very cheap and affordable for most visits
because the cost of health care is built into their taxes. Where in the United States, there is not a
universal health insurance to cover fees and costs. The financing “is a mix of public and private,
for-profit and nonprofit insurers and health care providers”.1 There are some programs put in
place, such as Medicare that provide funds for adults over 65, Medicaid to help assist, and even
some insurance plans for children. Unlike Sweden, most citizens have to directly pay for health
insurance instead of paying solely through taxes. In the United States, “states manage and pay
for aspects of local coverage and the safety net”.1 In Sweden, there are only two organizations
that are involved in the health care delivery system and that is the government and the National
health care system. Whereas, in the United States there are multiple organizations involved in the
health care delivery system and that is the government, Medicare, Medicaid, and private
insurance.
While the health care delivery system is very different in Sweden and in the United
States, they both could incorporate a few things from each other. What is unique about Sweden’s
health care delivery system is that they have raised awareness through the health system that has
helped individuals come to realize that other sections in the health system are important in
keeping citizens completely healthy. Sweden uses “a shared understanding that health is not
produced by the health system alone. Rather, it is produced by other sectors, and thus is the
responsibility of all sectors”.2 This means that with a shared responsibility of caring for the health
of their citizens, Sweden is more attentive to all health aspects of individuals in order to make
sure they are healthy and happy. In Sweden their delivery system is organized in a unique
manner that starts with the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions. From there it
divides into two sections, 21 county councils and 290 municipalities. Under the first section, it
includes 21 county councils, 7 university hospitals in 6 medical care regions, 70 county council-
driven hospitals and 6 private hospitals, 1,100 public and private primary care facilities, and
public and private dentists. Under the second section, it includes 290 municipalities, and public
and private services (special housing and home care) for elderly and disabled. In the US, the
organization is much more complex and falls under public financing or private financing. While
both Sweden and the United States run their healthcare delivery system how they think is best,
each system will continue to grow and advance in different ways.
References:
1. Tikkanen, R., Osborn, R., Mossialos, E., Djordjevic, A. and Wharton, G., 2020.
Sweden | Commonwealth Fund. Commonwealthfund.org.
https://www.commonwealthfund.org/international-health-policy-
center/countries/sweden. Accessed 23 January 2021.
2. Broussard, B., 2019. What Can America Learn From Sweden About Healthcare?
World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/01/what-can-
america-learn-from-sweden-about-healthcare/. Accessed 24 January 24, 2021.
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
