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Motivation & Insight into Medicine 7
Contrast our healthcare system with that of the British, American, Canadian or German systems. What are the pros and cons of our healthcare system?
Average Candidate Response
There are a number of differences between the mentioned healthcare systems including the fact that we have MediShield, whereas this is not present in the other mentioned countries. Additionally, the UK has the NHS which essentially offers free healthcare for all, funded by tax revenue.
Excellent Candidate Response
I will start with the pros and then address some of cons of our healthcare system, comparing this to some of the alternatives mentioned. Firstly, there is more individual accountability in our healthcare system. While there is a financial safety net – MediShield – for the poorest Singaporeans, individuals have their own savings in CPF and are encouraged to be responsible for their own savings. Secondly, there is a wider variety of choice, compared to the NHS, Canadian or German systems, where there exists only private or public healthcare, as we have 5 different classes of wards. Thirdly, there is an incentive for individuals to work harder and earn more money, as their own money is added to their CPF, as opposed to high tax rates in the UK NHS or Canada, which arguably encourages people to tax evade or utilize offshore tax havens. Finally, our system has much lower premiums than in the US, probably since our politicians are far less divided and government regulation is much better.
On the other hand, I think our system does need to close some legal gaps which leave certain Singaporeans vulnerable. Single parents, in particular, have a much harder time accessing the funds they require for healthcare, yet with only one income in the family are far more vulnerable to financial problems. Elderly patients or those born with birth defects are still at risk despite recent changes implemented in the government system, and so need greater protection in the future.
There are a number of differences between the mentioned healthcare systems including the fact that we have MediShield, whereas this is not present in the other mentioned countries. Additionally, the UK has the NHS which essentially offers free healthcare for all, funded by tax revenue.
Excellent Candidate Response
I will start with the pros and then address some of cons of our healthcare system, comparing this to some of the alternatives mentioned. Firstly, there is more individual accountability in our healthcare system. While there is a financial safety net – MediShield – for the poorest Singaporeans, individuals have their own savings in CPF and are encouraged to be responsible for their own savings. Secondly, there is a wider variety of choice, compared to the NHS, Canadian or German systems, where there exists only private or public healthcare, as we have 5 different classes of wards. Thirdly, there is an incentive for individuals to work harder and earn more money, as their own money is added to their CPF, as opposed to high tax rates in the UK NHS or Canada, which arguably encourages people to tax evade or utilize offshore tax havens. Finally, our system has much lower premiums than in the US, probably since our politicians are far less divided and government regulation is much better.
On the other hand, I think our system does need to close some legal gaps which leave certain Singaporeans vulnerable. Single parents, in particular, have a much harder time accessing the funds they require for healthcare, yet with only one income in the family are far more vulnerable to financial problems. Elderly patients or those born with birth defects are still at risk despite recent changes implemented in the government system, and so need greater protection in the future.