For those who don’t know, the UK is a state that has one of the best Universal Healthcare Systems worldwide. The truth is that a lot of systems located in every corner of the world are based on this one. The healthcare system in the UK is called NHS or National Health Service.
In this post, we are going to provide you with everything you need to know about healthcare in the United Kingdom.
One of the great things that everyone loves about healthcare in the United Kingdom is the fact that the government allows almost everybody to have free access to different healthcare services. This is always true despite your personality. When you are in the UK, you will have peace of mind knowing that doctors will treat you the same way as how they treat other patients.
The healthcare system in the United Kingdom does not care about the amount of money you have in your pocket. On the other hand, one of the drawbacks of this system is that you still need to pay some amount through taxes. But don’t worry since it is only a few amounts. The good thing here is that the tax rate that exists in the said country is on par with the countries that don’t have a healthcare system. These two are something you should know about healthcare in the UK.
Improve Public Health
The Universal healthcare system in the United Kingdom enables every citizen to avail of the basic level of healthcare services. Even though the health care provided is basic, it has something to do with the improvement of the overall health of the population, considering that each individual has the same access to medical care for free.
In connection to that, there will be a significant decrease in the number of sick people, which result in a more productive and healthier population. Aside from that, universal health care also offers services that can reduce general health problems, including the spread of contagious diseases. Residents of the said country will become more aware of their health. If they feel something wrong with their health and well-being, they won’t think twice to ask medical practitioners for a good treatment plan.
No Discrimination
One of the good things about the universal healthcare system in the UK is that they do not discriminate the patients. This aspect had helped a lot of individuals who do not have the money to get checked by a professional doctor. Take note that individuals are prone to diseases and sickness, no matter what their social level is. Thus, it is important to offer a complete treatment plan without discriminating the background information of the patient.
Widespread Accessibility
In the United Kingdom, anyone can access the universal healthcare system no matter where they are in the country. Some countries in the world, especially the larger ones, also offer this kind of system. But the problem is that they have little accessibility. But when you are in the United States, whether you are living in the urban, countryside, or rural areas, rest assured that you can access any of the available healthcare services.
Less Paperwork
The universal healthcare system will include each resident under a single system. This only means that medical practitioners, such as nurses and doctors, will not bother the paperwork of a patient like their insurance. Thus, they focus on the needed medical treatment of the patient. Through this, healthcare professionals and doctors will become more attentive to the profession they work in.
Generous System
Aside from being the state of healthcare systems, the United Kingdom is considered as a country that offers generous healthcare systems around the world. In addition to that, the said country has dealt well regarding the fiscal deficit. A lot of countries that offer healthcare system failed to manage this kind of issue. This is because enforcing welfare programs that offer healthcare services is considered to be a large bearing.
Full Coverage
As we mentioned earlier, the UK’s universal healthcare system does not discriminate against its patients. In connection to that, this kind of system provides its services to every resident of the said country together with full health coverage. When we say full coverage, every immigrant and local citizen of the United Kingdom who has obtained British citizenship can avail of health insurance funded and managed by the British government. The good thing here is that the system does not have an exemption.
Promote Human Right
Every human has the right to have the appropriate medical and health care. Therefore, the government is responsible for offering their citizens equal and free medical care through a universal healthcare system.
Even though the United Kingdom’s universal healthcare offers a wide range of benefits, such as giving equal and free medical care for every individual, it still comes with some drawbacks that you should know.
Takes Time
It is quite difficult to implement universal healthcare in a country. In connection to that, changing some systems is time-consuming and might compromise other factors. In addition to that, trials and errors are also possible and technical difficulties might also come along. This is possible since universal healthcare is composed of several regulations that residents should learn and comprehend.
Long Waiting Time
Universal healthcare in the United Kingdom does not allow the citizen to choose a medical care service. Aside from that, you need to wait for a long time before you get the assistance of a medical practitioner. This is also the main issue experienced by most universal healthcare systems located in other countries.
The long waiting time enables the residents to wait for weeks or months to start their treatment. Even though the government and experts are trying their best to solve this issue, residents still don’t see any progress up until now. This is also true in other universal healthcare systems offered by different countries around the globe.
Despite that, what’s important is that everyone can access medical care without being discriminated against or paying a medical fee.
