Compare the Healthcare Systems in USA and Haiti

Health Care Systems in USA and Haiti:

Health Care System in Haiti:

Currently, it's estimated that Haiti spends approximately 11% of its national budget towards health care. Notably, 80% of this amount is spent on salaries with the rest of the amount used for furniture and drugs. Much of the amount that is spent on Haiti's national budget including on health care is from foreign countries like Canada, Cuba, United States and France among others. On the list of the priorities of the Haitian government, health care is listed as priority number eight after education, agriculture and sanitation ("Health Care in Haiti," n.d.). Recently, Haiti experienced a major crisis in health care delivery necessitating the need for recovery of the country's health care system. The deficiency in Haiti's health care system and medical services is largely attributed to the fragmentation of both the public and private sector.

Throughout the history of health care in Haiti, there have been varying beliefs, particularly among Haitian Americans. While people from rural areas always seek medical help from folk healers instead of physicians, people from cities always seek help from professional health care providers or physicians. Furthermore, the type of medical help that is sought by people is also largely influenced by their social class and education. Haiti has been facing a crisis in health care delivery because of lack of policies to address the system given that the government has often failed in planning and dealing with challenges related to health care. Effective policymaking to address challenges to the country's health care system has also been hindered by the fact Haiti has had a new leader since 1986 to 1996 with rapid changes ("Politics and Health in Haiti," n.d.).

Health Care System in the United States:

Health care expenses in the United States are estimated to $2 trillion annually, higher than any other industrialized country. However, regardless of this high expenditure on health care, the country is still considered as one of the OECD countries that lack universal health coverage together with Turkey and Mexico. Actually, the minimal competitiveness of many U.S. businesses globally is attributed to the country's high spending on health care. This has resulted in calls for health care reforms that culminated in the recent enactment of a new health care policy by President Obama. The policy includes strategies that are aimed at reducing the cost of health care and increasing its accessibility that incorporates upgrading Medicare and Medicaid (Johnson, 2010). However, reforming health care system in the United States has usually proven to be politically divisive and attracted public debate.

Similarities in the Health Care Systems in USA and Haiti:

There are similarities and differences in the health care systems in the United States and Haiti. The major similarities in these health care systems include:

Financing:

In the United States and Haiti, health care is one of the major priorities of each country's government resulting in the fact that the health care system is financed by the government. In both countries, financing of the health care system is through the allocation of funds in the annual national budget. The governments of both of these countries allocate a specific amount of money towards health care in order to meet the needs of health care services within the country.

Public Health and Accessibility:

The second major similarity in the health care systems in both the United States and Haiti is the fact that public health is facing a crisis in both of the countries. The public health system in Haiti is facing a crisis because of the fact that the country is considered as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Since approximately 80% of the country's population is living below the poverty line, only 60% of Haiti's residents can access any form of health care services. The public health crisis emanates from the fact that clinics that provide medical aid are overwhelmed by people who are unable to pay for private care. Additionally, the crisis is also as a result of the management problems and deficiency of medications in public hospitals and clinics (Whyte, 2010).

In America, the public health crisis is due to the fact that approximately 43 million residents are currently without health insurance. Consequently, the country's health care system is not working for everyone since there are problems associated with the increasing costs and lack of easy access to health services. Since a significant percentage of the population can't afford the expensive health care insurance, many of the conditions that could either be avoided or treated inexpensively develop into health crises (Hellander & Bailey, 2001). The crisis is also increasing because health care costs in America are rising faster than inflation and wages with these costs being passed to employees by their employers.

Differences in the Health Care Systems in USA and Haiti:

Some of the differences in the health care systems of these two countries include the following:

Regulation and Resources:

While government policies have the potential of effecting positive changes in the country, there has been little effort from the Haitian government to enact legislations that would improve health care services. The country's political instability, poor infrastructure and the recent devastating earthquake have contributed to the health care crisis since the government is incapable of reacting appropriately. Furthermore, Haiti does not have enough resources to implement strategies for effective and affordable health care services because it's dependent on donor aid. On the contrary, American policymakers have been involved in the search for solutions to the nation's health care crisis. With the adequate resources at their disposal, these policymakers have usually attempted to address the health care crisis resulting in the recent enactment of a new health care policy by President Obama.

Mortality and Morbidity:

The infant mortality rate in Haiti is 79 per 1000 live births while the standard life expectancy at birth is estimated to be 50 years. Among children under the age of 5, the mortality rate is estimated to be approximately 123 per 1000 live births (Guly, 2004). Haiti also has a high morbidity rate because of poor sanitation and hygiene, lack of clean drinking water, inadequate nutrition and lack of proper sewage systems. On the contrary, infant mortality and morbidity rates in America vary considerably based on an individual's race. While infant mortality and morbidity rates in America have declined rapidly in the recent years, they are much lower as compared to that of Haiti.

Conclusion: