The provision of health care services is an essential aspect of any society because it affects the population’s overall well-being. The government plays a significant role in providing health care services in most countries, and opinions differ on the extent of the health care system and government involvement.

On the one hand, proponents of government involvement in health care argue that health care is a fundamental right and that the government is responsible for ensuring all citizens have access to quality health care services. They also believe that because the government is not motivated by profit, it can provide health care services more efficiently than the private sector. This viewpoint also contends that government involvement in the health care system can help reduce costs, particularly for those who cannot afford it.

On the other hand, some argue that the government should play a limited role in the health care system, citing inefficiencies, bureaucracy, and long wait times for medical services as reasons for government involvement. They believe the profit-driven private sector is better suited to providing efficient, high-quality health care services.

Regardless of these opposing viewpoints, it is clear that providing quality health care services is critical in ensuring that people can live healthy lives while also contributing to the growth and development of their communities.

Real Research, an online survey app, conducted a survey on the public perception of the health care system and government involvement to determine the fundamental right quality health and the extent of government involvement.

Key Points

  • 29.31% are very satisfied with their government’s involvement in the health care sector.
  • It’s imperative that the government provides health care access for all citizens, say 35.36%.
  • 32.64% find it challenging to access care in their country.

Public Perception of Health Care Quality and Affordability

Health care is important to any society because it affects the population’s overall well-being. Health care services are critical in ensuring that people can live healthy lives and contribute to the growth and development of their communities.

However, the cost of health care services can be a significant barrier to access. In this insight, we will present the findings of a Real Research survey designed to understand better the public’s perception of the health care system and government involvement.

The survey’s first question was, “Have you ever had to delay or forego health care services due to cost?” The results showed that 41% of the respondents had delayed or foregone health-related care due to cost, while 9% had not. This data sheds light on the challenges faced by individuals in accessing health care services, particularly those who are financially constrained.

After discovering that 41% of the respondents have had to delay or forego health care services due to cost, we also asked them to rate the overall quality of health care in their country. Here are the results: 20% rated it as excellent, 24% as good, 19% as fair, 14% as poor, and 23% were not sure.

Major Health Care Sector Challenges

Furthermore, the survey revealed that most respondents faced challenges related to access and cost of health care services in their country.

33% of the surveyees identified access to care as the biggest challenge, followed by 27% who cited the cost of care as a significant issue. Additionally, 17% of the respondents expressed concern about the quality of care, while 7% mentioned the availability of providers as a challenge.

Only 6% believed government regulation was a significant issue, and 9% cited insurance coverage as a challenge.

Government’s Involvement in the Health care Sector

According to figure 1, when asked about the extent of government involvement in the health care system, 39% of the respondents believed that the government should have an extensive role. On the other hand, 25% of the respondents felt that the government should have a minor role, while 19% believed that the government should not be involved in health care.

Finally, 17% of the respondents were unsure about the government’s role in the health care system.

Figure 1 Government’s Involvement in the Healthcare System
Figure 1: Government’s Involvement in the Health care System

This data suggests that a significant portion of the population believes that the government should play a significant role in health care, while others prefer a minor or no role for the government.

Similarly, when asked about if private companies should be allowed to provide health care along with the government, the majority had positive outlooks on this. Among them, 40% agreed that private companies should take part and have competition in the market. In addition, 35% disagreed and stated that only the government should be involved, and 25% were neutral and were fine with any option.

Moreover, the following poll suggests that most (60%) are satisfied with the government’s involvement in the health care sector. Inversely, 11% remained dissatisfied.

Of the respondents who expressed satisfaction with the government’s involvement in the health care sector, approximately 30% indicated they were only somewhat satisfied, while the others expressed more satisfaction. Likewise, 7% expressed dissatisfaction, while 3% were very dissatisfied.

Addressing Issues in Government Health Care Systems

A fundamental health right and a substantial determinant of a nation’s social and economic development is access to high-quality health care. However, despite significant medical research and technology advancements, many nations still struggle to offer their citizens access to quality health care.

Individuals frequently express dissatisfaction with problems like high costs, a lack of insurance coverage, bureaucratic red tape, and government-run health care systems, in particular, which have been the focus of ongoing criticism and debate.

Understanding the specific concerns of the populace and how the government can best address them is crucial in the situation. The following information sheds light on some of the most critical problems the public has identified with government-run health care systems.

Figure 2 Ways to counter government-involved healthcare system flaws.
Figure 2: Ways to counter government-involved healthcare system flaws.

Based on the data received, 18% stated to increase funding for health care, followed by implementing policies to increase access to care (21%), reducing the costs of care (19%), and streamlining bureaucracy and regulations (14%).

Equity of Access to Health Care

According to the survey results, when asked about the importance of the government providing access to health care for all citizens, 35% of the surveyees said it was “very important,” while 22% said it was “somewhat important.” About 29% were neutral on the issue.

Contrastingly, 11% said it was “somewhat unimportant.” Only 3% of the respondents said it was “very unimportant” for the government to provide access to health care for all citizens.

Building a Better Health Care System

When the respondents were asked about ways to improve the health care system, 21% said to increase government involvement, while 18% stated to decrease government involvement. In addition, 23% said improved access to health care, and 18% said reducing the cost of care.

Figure 3 How the government should prioritize healthcare spending
Figure 3: How the government should prioritize healthcare spending

Lastly, the survey revealed options that the government could prioritize health care spending. 22% stated focusing on preventive care and wellness programs, followed by investing in medical research and development (17%), improving access to primary care services (22%), and investing in specialized care for chronic conditions (18%).

Methodology

 
Survey TitleSurvey: Public Perception of Health Care System and Government Involvement
DurationMarch 13-March 20, 2023
Number of Participants10,000
DemographicsMales and females, aged 21 to 99
Participating Countries Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, China (Hong Kong) China (Macao), China (Taiwan), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greanada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Maluritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar [Burma], Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.