| Constantly under review and scrutiny, the issues | | | | systems, with most countries spending public |
| on healthcare Systems have become international. | | | | funds for this service delivery. Government taxes |
| Made up mainly of organizations and individuals, | | | | plays the role of funding this system |
| these healthcare structural systems are designed | | | | supplemented and strengthened with private |
| to meet a target population's need for health care. | | | | payments. |
| On an international level, there is a diverse variety | | | | The World Health Organization (WHO) report of |
| of health care systems. In some countries the | | | | 2000 ranks each member country's health care |
| planning of the health care systems are market | | | | system. Discussions on the positive and negative |
| driven and participated in by the private sector. In | | | | aspects of replacing health care systems with |
| other countries the systems are composed of | | | | insurance systems use this report's quotation. |
| government and non-government entities such as | | | | However, the WHO has remarked that as ranking |
| religious groups, trade unions charities and or other | | | | healthcare systems is a complex task, these |
| coordinative bodies that are centrally run and | | | | ranking tables will no longer be produced. Infant |
| planned, to enable the delivery of healthcare | | | | mortality and life expectancy are two main |
| services to the populations they target. In other | | | | variables that are used in the ranking. Out of 198 |
| words, health care planning has evolved. | | | | countries, Canada ranks thirtieth and the US ranks |
| According to a World Health Organization report in | | | | thirty seventh. The World Health Organization |
| 2000, the main goals of health systems are the | | | | ranks France, San Marino, Italy, Andorra, |
| ability to provide a responsive health service | | | | Singapore, Malta, Spain, Austria, Oman and Japan |
| alongside considerations of fair financial | | | | as the world's top ten. |
| contributions. In order to appraise overall health | | | | With the founding of the UN (United Nations), |
| care systems, a proposed two-dimensional | | | | there was planning and discussion on the need for |
| approach was conceived. The first dimension | | | | a single entity to serve, observe and assess global |
| consists of equity and the second is composed of | | | | health care system trends. Thus the World Health |
| efficiency, quality and acceptability. | | | | Organization was formed in 1948 on April 7th with |
| Several proposals have come from the Senate in | | | | headquarters based in Geneva, Switzerland. |
| the United States and the White House. Health | | | | Annually the WHO is recognized by the celebration |
| care system issues according to President Obama | | | | of a World Health Day. The WHO is the |
| are issues that should be addressed immediately | | | | coordinative and directive authority for United |
| and placed them on a top priority list. A universal | | | | Nations' member countries individual health |
| health care system does not exist or is practiced | | | | systems. Member countries of the United Nations |
| in the United States. Some countries subsidize | | | | are allowed WHO membership through the |
| their universal healthcare directly from | | | | acceptance of the WHO constitution. To date |
| government coffers. This kind of universal | | | | there are a total of 198 member nations |
| healthcare is called socialized medicine, which is a | | | | participating in WHO programs. |
| combination of private and public delivery | | | | |