Reported on IELTS July 22nd Some feel governments, rather tha | British Council | IELTS™
Reported on IELTS July 22nd
Some feel governments, rather than private companies, should be in charge of medical services.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
There has been widespread debate in recent years concerning whether healthcare should be private or public. In my opinion, despite the importance of government regulation in the healthcare industry, a freer system will naturally encourage greater innovation.
The best support for government controlled healthcare comes from the exorbitant costs of private care. The United States is the best known example of this phenomenon. There are countless stories of vulnerable individuals requiring medical attention who face the prospect of years of nearly insurmountable medical bills. If the government runs the hospitals, as is the case in more progressive nations including Canada and England, the average person does not have to worry about prohibitively expensive medical emergencies. Citizens living in these countries now consider free medical treatment for the injured or ill as a foundational human right that governments have a responsibility to safeguard.
However, governments are notorious for stiffling innovation. This applies to a range of sectors and can best be evidenced by the failure of communism as an economic model. The less extreme forms of socialism that guide many European nations guarantee basic care but hospitals are not motivated to compete and excel. Despite the many drawbacks of the U.S. healthcare system, hospitals there routinely fund and are driven to uncover new treatments and procedures in order to attract more patients. While surging costs may leave behind vulnerable segments of the population, hospitals have a powerful motivation to produce the best possible results for those who can afford treatment.
In conclusion, medicine should be available for all citizens but this cannot be at the expense of the quality of healthcare. Governments should regulate the medical industry and provide welfare schemes yet still allow for a competitive environment.
@britishcouncilofficial
