Health in Australia
I read “Neglect bites back with a vengeance”. It’s an article that deals with the apparent lack of attention given to the Dental Medicare system of Australia. Almost seven million Australian don’t have access to proper dental health care. These people have to rely on “poorly” regulated government funded program that usually have over four hundred thousand people already on waiting lists. The article also deals with all the probable measures the government of Australia will take in order to favour the Medicare system towards those not capable of paying their dental bills.
This article came as surprise to me. The Australians are talking about getting a universal Dental health care system while here in the US, over sixteen percent of the population (that’s fifty million resident) don’t even have access to basic Health insurance. Imagine yourself being a person with some curable kidney cancer. Now imagine yourself not having medical insurance or having not insurance claim denied for some pre-existing condition you may have not known before. That would be life as a poor American.
We’re the lucky, we’re in college. We don’t necessarily have to worry much of these health related problems yet people, some who maybe our age, have to do so. So why DOESN’T the US have a real “Universal health PLAN”?
Then it made me wonder. Is this a cultural thing? For example here, some people argue that health care plan would take a tremendous toll on the health of the US economy. Yet countries like Australia and France are still managing to put in to place a Universal health plan despite debts (especially in France). For France, I’m sure this plan was enacted due to cultural reasons and images. Does their Mission statement convince you? Liberté, Fraternité, Égalité? (Liberty, Brotherhood, equality). Yes, I’m sure it does.
Then I asked myself what cultural reason would there be behind the opposition the universal health care here in the US. Is it because of the capitalistic culture; the pursuit of continual growth the reason?
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/health-of-the-nation/neglect-bites-back-with-a-vengeance/story-fn9iqmqf-1226138601319
This is really interesting. I think I know a lot about other cultures, but I think it ends up being a lot less than I thought I knew. For instance, I know that healthcare is a topic that concerns the governments across the globe. I did not know that dental healthcare was specifically of concern. Australia does have Medicare for everyone as the speaker said, but I just assumed that dental would be included. The culture is so different in other countries, especially on the issue of healthcare. I take for granted a lot all of the amenities and opportunities that are provided to me. I know that many people here in the United States struggle with that problem. Australia is doing a great thing for their country providing this service, but I really feel that it depends on the government, because here in America the healthcare issue is a major arguing factor (especially with the lack of funds the government has). There are pros and cons to everything. Healthcare is a major issue, because the costs will affect many more areas of government. It can affect taxes, salaries, quality of life, but especially the government. There are a lot of factors that go into it. I would not say it is necessarily a cultural issue as much as it is a difference in government and societal standings and opinions. (engr103)
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