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Which countries have the best healthcare in the world?

When determining whether a country has the best healthcare in the world, one must consider multiple aspects, such as pricing, accessibility, etc. However, some factors, such as affordability and coverage, are more vital than others. This Pacific Prime article will take a closer look at six major countries that offer the best healthcare in the world in 2022.

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Presenting countries with the best healthcare systems in the world in 2022

Switzerland finds the balance

Switzerland offers the best healthcare in the world. Swiss residents are required to secure private insurance through federally approved insurers. The private insurance providers offer policies that cover all medical examinations and treatments and are obliged by law to provide a basic level of healthcare coverage regardless of the resident’s age, medical condition, etc. The Swiss healthcare system is paid for with public contributions such as taxes, premiums, and copayments (where the patient pays for a part of the medical bills).

The residents of Switzerland benefit from 4.6 beds per 1,000 people – one of the world’s highest figures. Moreover, there are 17.5 midwives in Switzerland per 1,000 people.

Germany’s income-based system

Germany offers some of the best healthcare in the world, thanks to the country’s high proportion of the world’s best medical technology universities. Germany’s primary source of health insurance comes from the national public system, which employers and employees fund. On top of that, the government also offers income subsidies, which are capped at about $65,000. Additionally, the country offers reduced subsidies for people with chronic illnesses. However, a small group of citizens chooses private insurance plans – those that aren’t qualified for subsidies, though premiums are regulated.

Norway’s unique approach 

Fueled by payroll and taxes, Norway’s universal healthcare system offers public and private services. Each resident has access to the country’s universal healthcare scheme, regardless of nationality. One of the biggest reasons for Norway’s healthcare success is sufficient funding. In turn, the financial support enables its residents to benefit from healthcare services that other nations don’t. For example, 70% of long-term care recipients in Norway can receive care at home.

Norway has a unique approach, ensuring that its residents have access to a doctor whenever required. Once residents sign up to the National Registry, they are assigned to a local doctor and can choose their general practitioner from an approved list. Note that, only 10% of Norway’s population has private insurance (the employer provides 90% of the policies).

France mixes it up

France has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, owing to its universal coverage and government systems. In 2000, statutory health insurance was expanded to every citizen. So, even if out-of-pocket payments are common for doctor’s appointments, the government refunds most fees. France also has the highest quality of medical care in the world, and the country has the lowest levels of cardiovascular mortality in the OECD countries.

The Ministry of Health plays a significant role in France’s healthcare setup. It is responsible for setting budgets, controlling the number of hospital beds, deciding the types of equipment to purchase, and regulating the number of students trained.

Japan does it, again! 

Japan enjoys a high standard of healthcare that helps the country achieve increased life expectancy. The country’s statutory health insurance system covers more than 98% of Japan’s population. On the other hand, there is a different healthcare system in place that helps those in poverty – proving itself as one of the countries with the best healthcare in the world.

Japan’s SHIC covers most medical treatments, namely, mental health care, dental, and hospice care.

Asia’s best, Singapore

Singapore is always on top of the charts in offering its citizens the best healthcare services. Singapore’s public healthcare is funded by taxes and mandatory contributions to the life insurance schemes and deductions from the compulsory savings plan or the Central Provident Fund (CPF) by employees and employers. The two main health insurance schemes are Medisave and Medishield.

Individuals inject 7-9.5% of their wages into Medisave for routine medical care. At the same time, Medishield is a low-cost, basic insurance scheme used to pay for significant expenses, such as costly outpatient procedures. To put it simply, a Singaporean will pay for their medical costs out of their Medisave account until they reach their deductible, at which point, they will start using their Medishield account. However, expats are exempted from the CPF and must get health coverage through their employer or purchase private healthcare insurance.

Criteria to be the best healthcare system in the world

So, what does it take to be the best provider of healthcare? According to the industry-leading nations mentioned in this article, you must ensure all citizens are taken care of to be among the best. On top of that, the government or private organizations must monitor the state of healthcare regularly and provide regulations to help maintain the system. Lastly, accessibility is key – the more hospitals and services a healthcare system offers, the better it is.

To secure health insurance coverage today, contact Pacific Prime and our health insurance experts to get a quote and expert advice.

Content Creator at Pacific Prime
Karoon is a content creator who strives to represent Pacific Prime's goal of simplifying insurance.

An enthusiastic writer and a core part of our team of health insurance experts, Karoon tackles every topic with the aim to make it as informative and simple as possible.
Karoon