Universal Healthcare in the United States: A Right That May Never be

Universal healthcare, being a human right, is a very controversial matter in the U.S. However, I think that it seems only obvious that everyone should be entitled to healthcare given that most people desire to maintain a positive health status. This issue is not a political ideological issue, nor is it a race or socioeconomic issue. This issue is due to the inability of the commander in chief, congress, and the senate to collectively construct a healthcare plan that will serve the entire population favorably and improve the health outcomes in the United States. This may even include possibly amending the constitution and making universal healthcare a human right.

Comparing the United States to other countries that have amended universal healthcare to all citizens is an eye-opening comparison. Take for example, a country like Cuba, who has been appraised for having one of the best healthcare systems in the world by the World Health Organization (WHO). This is due to the fact that healthcare in Cuba is free to all Cuban citizens, and this is included in their constitution as a fundamental human right, which is guaranteed by the state. The success of their healthcare system is in part due to the number of Cuban health care workers they have produced. These healthcare workers are sent to nations in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean that lack sufficient medical professionals. In return, these nations reward Cuba with oil, good-will, and money.

Thereby, compared to the 396:1 patient to physician ratio in the United States, Cuba has a patient to physician ratio of 155:1. They also provide free medical and hospital care by implementing many clinics and medical service networks. The U.S. spends approximately 17.6% of their GDP on healthcare while Cuba only spends approximately 10%, which is on par with other countries that provide universal health care such as the UK, Canada, and Sweden. Life expectancy is virtually identical between Cuba and the U.S., however there is still this large difference in healthcare spending. One downfall of Cuba’s health system is that they still lack the materials and resources to provide adequate healthcare, compared to the U.S, where healthcare resources are abundant and topnotch. Also, the compensation for the Cuban healthcare workers is very poor and does not compare to the pay physicians receive in the United States. Therefore, the ultimate question is whether the United States will have to make a major change to its health system by implementing a change constitutionally or by making a change at the individual level.

References:

https://thebossmagazine.com/healthcare-u-s-can-learn-cuban-healthcare-system/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2014/12/22/cuba-cost-effective-healthcare/#374bce7a5899