How Globalization of Healthcare Accessibility, Medical Expertise, and Societal Influences Impact Patients in the United States, France, and Cuban Economies

Presenter

Holliday Elizabeth Bucar

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Deepika Marya, Honors College, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 3, 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A11, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 1 (A1-A20) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

It is imperative to critically examine how the globalization of healthcare accessibility, medical expertise, and societal influences impact the well-being and outcomes of patients in the United States, France, and Cuba. The central problem addressed in this thesis is whether privatization of health care is beneficial to patients, looking at examples from countries with different economies. The argument I make is that it is not beneficial to patients, this is supported by findings related to insurance accessibility, medical training, health care provided, as well as social customs and norms existing in each of these countries. In a highly privatized healthcare system, at a certain point, healthcare becomes a commodity. As seen in the United States, if services can be afforded, they will be provided, if not, they are inaccessible except to the elite. In France, a mixed healthcare system allows patients the ability to access both public and private healthcare under a universal insurance plan and has begun to dissolve financial barriers for lower-income patients. In Cuba, the utilization of universal insurance, strength in education, and supply of highly trained doctors make healthcare accessible to all citizens. The significance of this research is the consequences of supporting a system that profits from patient illness. When the root cause of sickness and disease becomes non-essential, it introduces questions concerning systemic sustainability for patients and humankind in the long term.

Keywords

Debating globalization seminar, Healthcare accessibility, Global economies

Research Area

Globalization and Development

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