The Interplay of Socioeconomic and Political Factors in Healthcare System: A Comparative Analysis of Healthcare System of a Developed and a Developing Country
Abstract:
As a determinant of the population’s wellbeing, healthcare system is a crucial component in any country. Health care service affects the quality of life of the people and the potential for the country’s economic growth. However, there exists limited understanding of the effects of societal factors such as the social, political and economic fac tors on healthcare system. This paper explores the impact of these factors on healthcare system by undertaking a comparative analysis of healthcare system in two countries with highly divergent social, economic and political status, across significant healthcare indices such as healthcare coverage, financing mechanism and health out comes, using articles and health reports. The analysis revealed that a country with strong economic capability, so cial and political stability have better healthcare system, compared to a country with a weak economic capability, coupled with social and political instability. This is indicative of the reliance of healthcare system on the general socioeconomic and socio-political conditions of the country, and that understanding healthcare cannot be done in isolation, but rather within the lenses of the general socioeconomics, political and cultural factor. Hence, the need to build stronger economies, reliable financing mechanisms and ensuring safer social and political environment for an effective, accessible and affordable healthcare.
