For Kim Woods

Over the years, major reforms that have taken place in the field of healthcare. One controversial issue that has led to divergent opinions is the ideology of universal healthcare coverage. Proponents argue that providing free health care will have a positive impact on the health of the public while opponents of the ideology believe that universal healthcare will lead to decreased level of healthcare provision (Anderson & Greg, 2012). This paper presents an argument that supports the statement that universal healthcare should be available to a regardless of their ability to pay in the same way that other services such as education are available to all for free.

Universal healthcare coverage should be provided to all patients because it results in:

i) Improved healthcare to all people

Universal healthcare provides accessible health services to the population in different regions in the world. When patients are provided with free healthcare, a large number of patients who are unable to acquire expensive specialised care but are suffering from different conditions are likely to seek the medical services. According to HealthPac (2016), universal health coverage has changed the lifestyle of many people who live in areas with high poverty levels since they can also access better healthcare regardless of their financial status.

Patients who suffer from diverse ailments that require specialised treatment such as cancer and brain tumour, therefore, can easily access high-quality health care. Universal healthcare covers for all classes of people such as the low class, the working class, and the high class. It, therefore, eliminates the impact of class on the type of health care that an individual can access. This is because any person gets quality and immediate health care by health professionals.

ii) Preventative care among the population

Many people, in areas with high poverty levels and economic disparity, are less likely to seek preventative healthcare due to the high costs of the health services. The adoption of universal health coverage will, therefore, ensure that individuals seek preventative care to avert the occurrence of fatal diseases such as tuberculosis, hypertension, and cancer. In some countries, low economic status makes the people unable to prevent the outbreak of illness since the little income that they get used to purchasing food and other essential human wants. Therefore, activities such as effective environmental conservation and access to clean water become a pipe dream to the people.

iii) Equality and fairness

Universal health coverage also promotes the spirit of equality and fairness. This is because all people irrespective of their income, race or gender, can easily get healthcare services in any part of the world. Universal health care removes the inequality barrier that divides the wealthy or the powerful in the society with the poor (Ronsard, 2011). There are some healthcare services that low-income earners cannot access due to their high costs. Such people feel isolated and downtrodden by the high class who can access any healthcare service. However, universal healthcare coverage eliminates the disparity since every individual is subjected to high-quality healthcare without any discrimination or prejudice.

Moreover, migrants or people of other ethnic backgrounds who may face discrimination at different healthcare organizations are also included in the universal healthcare program. The inclusion of the individuals whom the natives may consider as foreigners eliminates the occurrence of discrimination based on diverse cultural backgrounds.

iv) Decrease in administrative healthcare costs

Universal healthcare coverage will have a positive impact on the healthcare organizations. This is because it will lead to a reduction of administrative cost that has been brought about by the fact that all activities such as billing and insurance payouts are undertaken by a single organization. All rules about different activities such as billing are similar to every patient. Hence, the organization does not spend a lot of funds for these services.

v) Economic growth and better living standards

Universal healthcare results in free health services hence the population will not have not spend a lot of money in paying for health care services (Behzad, 2009). The funds that could have been used in seeking health services can, therefore, be put in income generating activities thus resulting in economic growth and improved standards of living.

vi) Facilitates health insurance

Under the universal healthcare program, citizens of a particular country are expected to register for insurance. In some nations, the insurance is made compulsory through legislation by the government. This ensures that every individual has a health cover in case of any sickness or condition. Universal healthcare has helped many people to access health services. In most industries, workers involved in factory accidents can easily get treatment since they are insured by the organization under which they work.

In summary, the provision of free healthcare services to the public has a significant impact on their daily healthcare. Universal healthcare should, therefore, be available to all regardless of their ability to pay; this is because it results in improved healthcare provision as well as better standards of living.

References

Anderson, T., & Greg, K. (2012). Healthcare in a multicultural society. Journal of Healthcare 22 (9) 67-71

Behzad, M.,(2009). Universal Healthcare in the United States of America

New York: Blackwell Press

HealthPac, (2016). Structure and Funding of Universal Healthcare