Topic Issue

It has been blatantly demonstrated time and again that the inadequate involvement and/or intervening of the current healthcare system is leaving the cost of quality care up to the market. Those who stand to make money from the current healthcare crisis are deciding how much it costs, and this is not right. This leaves high costs of quality care, and little access when considering many people cannot afford the going rates for insurance and/or medical care. Something needs to be done, and soon, but who can we trust to turn this crisis around?

Many other countries have a universal system of healthcare. These governments who actually never claimed to be “for the people, by the people”, fear the public and care enough for them to provide excellent heALTHCARE to be had by all (Micheal Moore, 2007). These citizens in countries such as Canada, France,Cuba and England have worry free healthcare services. They walk in, then walk out healthier after having received quality healthcare. They also will never be billed for this because it is federally regulated and everyone pays a little, so that everyone can benefit (Moore, 2007).

I feel strongly about this, healthcare should be something everyone has access to regardless of life outcomes and salary. I have had the priveledge of being able to use Medicaid and other government funded programs during my pregnancy. It was great, I walked into the doctor, no co-pay and prescriptions and vitamins cost next to nothing, and they also ensured that the children were healthy and eating healthy amounts of food, and help supply some nutrition and guidance along the way. There were classes for nursing mothers, and anything you can imagine.

I realize that some people look down on those who use the system in this manner, but that is what it is there for. I am a student and was pregnant with absolutely no insurance what=so-ever, my options were limited and would have never been able to afford a child any other way. Why can’t all healthcare agencies be more regulated financially in the same manner as medicare and Medicaid programs? It seems so simple of an idea, why can’t every American pay out of their taxes to have easy healthcare, worry-free.

I suppose that the only thing that really needs to be considered is whether we can actually trust our government to care enough for us to assist with the healthcare delivery system, or if they will be out just to make a few extra bucks, too? It seems to work in many other countries, so why not here and why not now?

There is an increasing number of uninsured people, higher demand for accountability, technological groehts and advances in medicine, shortages of health professionals, increased scrutiny of healthcare costs, and the list goes on and on. (Sultz & Young, 2006). Something needs to be done, and this issue needs to be addressed. The problem is that those who stand to make money in the system, risk that loss of funds when the system is changed, and a lot of those people can be located in our current government (Moore, 2007).

It is unfortunate that public health requires a new threat or epidemic to halt the demise of organized public health and restore an effective public health structure. Unfortunately enough, it seems that today, the rising epidemic that needs the most attention is the United States health care system. For being such an advanced country, it is surprising that we cannot figure out a simple enough of a way to solve this dilemma. There are many other advanced countries in the world who have absolutely no problems with their healthcare delivery and services.

If there are so many other advanced countries whose governments are involved in their public healthcare, then why does public health have so much difficulty maintaining governmental support of its central role in maintaining the health and well-being of the American people? Besides, this country was for the people by the people, shouldn’t their be more concerning our overall health and happiness?

There are many arguments circulating about this very serious healthcare crisis that is effecting the American people. According to Presidential