The French healthcare system is widely known as one of the best (if not the best) public health services the world over. In fact, it is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be “close to best overall health care” in the world. It has universal coverage because it is made up of a fully integrated network of medical service providers, including hospitals (both public and private), clinics and doctors. Most importantly, it provides healthcare services to every one of France’s citizens, regardless of social status, gender or age.
The French healthcare system has the capacity to cover all citizens because it is partly funded by all employers, employees and even the self-employed. Part of its funding comes from the government national health insurance, as well as from users who have to pay a small fraction of the cost of the services they receive. Although the system may not be near perfect, health status in the country as well as the level of consumer satisfaction are quite high.
Just like everything else in the planet, the French healthcare system may have its positive and negative points. Here are some of them:
List of Pros of the French Healthcare System
1. It is highly accessible.
Because France’s healthcare program is completely funded, everyone in the country can easily get the healthcare service they need, no matter the income or age. All they need to do is call for medical help to receive the care they need.
2. It has the highest quality of care.
The best indicator of a good healthcare system is good quality. The French healthcare system was ranked No. 1 by the World Health Organization in 2000, indicating that it has the highest quality of services for all citizens. Even to those who cannot afford it, physicians and healthcare facilities still provide the best services possible to ensure complete consumer satisfaction, which is not true for other healthcare programs.
3. It offers preventive care for all.
The French healthcare system offers preventive services that are accessible to all. This makes it easier for people to manage their health and prevent medical conditions from worsening. This results in requiring less medical attention in the future.
4. It allows patients to directly seek treatment from a specialist.
Unlike the United States’ healthcare program, France’s allows its people to get treatment from a specialist without the need to get approval from a primary care physician, which can be frustrating to a lot of patients who need immediate care.
List of Cons of French Healthcare System
1. It doesn’t come cheap.
Naturally, for people to receive the best quality healthcare, they need to pay higher taxes, which is a problem for most citizens. This can mean they would less to spend on necessities. People who are perfectly healthy would feel burdened by the high taxes because they do not need as much medical attention as others.
2. It would require more healthcare workers.
For France to be able to meet the demands of a good quality healthcare program, they would need to have a large workforce to provide different services.
The biggest advantage that the French healthcare system has over others is that it provides a mandatory insurance coverage for anyone who lives in France for longer than three months. However, it does require people to pay higher taxes. But if higher taxes mean better healthcare services, then it is probably worth it.