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Health
care by country:
Europe:
All of Europe has publicly sponsored and regulated health
care. Countries include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland,
France Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,[15] Russia, Spain,
Sweden and the United Kingdom. Health care in the Republic
of Ireland is governed by the Health Act 2004, which
established a new body to govern the national health
service in the Republic of Ireland, the Health Service
Executive.
Switzerland:
Healthcare in Switzerland is regulated by the Federal
Health Insurance Act. Health insurance is compulsory
for all persons resident in Switzerland (within three
months of taking up residence or being born in the country).
International civil servants, members of permanent missions
and their familiy members are exempted from compulsory
health insurance. They can, however, apply to join the
Swiss health insurance system, within six months of
taking up residence in the country.
North
America:
The federal government of Lester B. Pearson, pressured
by the New Democratic Party (NDP) who held the balance
of power, introduced the Medical Care Act in 1966 that
extended the HIDS Act cost-sharing to allow each province
to establish a universal health care plan. It also set
up the Medicare system. In 1984, the Canada Health Act
was passed, which prohibited user fees and extra billing
by doctors. In 1999, the prime minister and most premiers
reaffirmed in the Social Union Framework Agreement that
they are committed to health care that has "comprehensiveness,
universality, portability, public administration and
accessibility.
Nigeria:
Health care provision in Nigeria is a concurrent responsibility
of the three tiers of government in the country. However,
because Nigeria operates a mixed economy, private providers
of health care have a visible role to play in health
care delivery. The federal government's role is mostly
limited to coordinating the affairs of the university
teaching hospitals, while the state government manages
the various general hospitals and the local government
focus on dispensaries.
Japan:
In Japan, payment for personal medical services is offered
through a universal insurance system that provides relative
equality of access, with fees set by a government committee.
People without insurance through employers can participate
in a national health insurance program administered
by local governments. Since 1973, all elderly persons
have been covered by government-sponsored insurance.
Patients are free to select physicians or facilities
of their choice. |
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