Healthcare Comparison
Recientemente, I have been thinking about the healthcare system of Italy as I have slowly but surely witnessed it's use by my family and unfortunately some friends. Did you know it's #2 out of 191 countries listed by the World Health Organization? Of all industrialized countries the US of A is ranked the lowest at 37. How embarrassing.
Italians pay a hefty amount of taxes with a hefty chunk of those going towards health care and help fund their doctors offices and hospitals. The law states everyone must have health care. In fact, if a patient refuses it, they might have to go to court where a judge will decide if it's for the better good of the people that the patient receives treatment. Additionally, the system makes a hospital visit cost nothing to an Italian. They also have the choice to have a private doctor come to them in their home, but my host dad tells me a lot of the time it's unnecessary and doctors all over Italy know what they're doing. That probably has to do with the intense academic work Italian scholars face throughout their childhood (just ask my host sister who has school 6 days a week).
I'm not going to get political here and focus on what the US should do or whether or not I support ObamaCare and blahblahblah...but I will say this system impresses me. I feel secure knowing that I'm living in a country filled with knowledgeable people who can help those who fall ill when they need too.
If you want to read more, check out this article from Wake Forest University. A più tarde!
Italians pay a hefty amount of taxes with a hefty chunk of those going towards health care and help fund their doctors offices and hospitals. The law states everyone must have health care. In fact, if a patient refuses it, they might have to go to court where a judge will decide if it's for the better good of the people that the patient receives treatment. Additionally, the system makes a hospital visit cost nothing to an Italian. They also have the choice to have a private doctor come to them in their home, but my host dad tells me a lot of the time it's unnecessary and doctors all over Italy know what they're doing. That probably has to do with the intense academic work Italian scholars face throughout their childhood (just ask my host sister who has school 6 days a week).
I'm not going to get political here and focus on what the US should do or whether or not I support ObamaCare and blahblahblah...but I will say this system impresses me. I feel secure knowing that I'm living in a country filled with knowledgeable people who can help those who fall ill when they need too.
If you want to read more, check out this article from Wake Forest University. A più tarde!
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