Beveridge Model

The Beveridge Model is a health care system in which the government provides health care for all its citizens through income tax payments.[1] This model was first established by William Beveridge in United Kingdom in 1948.[2] Under this system, most hospitals and clinics are owned by the government; some doctors and health care professionals are government employees, but there are also private institutions that collect their fees from the government. With the government as the single-payer in this health care system, it eliminates competition in the health care market and help to keep the costs low. Using income tax as the main funding for health care allow for services to be free at the point of service, the patients' contribution to taxes covers for their health care expenses.[3]

The Beveridge Model has its distinct policies, but most countries use variations of this model combined with the other health care approaches. Countries that operates in some variation of the Beveridge Model employs a universal health care system. The universal health care system ensure that all residents within a country are guaranteed access to healthcare.[4] The countries that are currently implementing Beveridge Model policies include the Great Britain, Spain, New Zealand, Denmark and more.

The Beveridge Model emphasises health as a human right.  

History

The Beveridge Model of health care was first created by William Beveridge, a British economist and social reformer whose ideas led to the creation of Great Britain's National Health Services (NHS) in 1948.[1] The model originated in the United Kingdom and spreads through many areas in Northern Europe and the world.

This model was popularized by T.R. Reid, an American author, reporter, documentary filmmaker, and radio commentator on National Public Radio's Morning Edition. T.R. Reid is the author of the well-known book called "The Healing of America" that was published on 31 August 2010. In the book, Reid examines 4 different health care models used in wealthy industrialization nations and compare them to the health care system followed by the United States. The models that Reid discussed in the book includes: the Beveridge Model, the Bismarck Model, the National Health Insurance (NHI), and the Out-of-Pocket model.

Coverage & cost

The Beveridge Model emphasizes health as a human right. Thus, universal coverage is provided by the government and anyone who is a citizen is given coverage and access to health care.   

Criticisms

A criticism of the Beveridge Model is the long waiting list to receive health care. Because everyone is guaranteed health care, the shortage of professional personnel and the over-utilization of the system leads to long wait time for patients.

According to Joseph Kutzin, Coordinator of Health Financing Policy at World Health Organization, another concern regarding the system is how the government is going to respond to health crisis.[5] In the case of national emergency, the funding for health care may decline as public income decreases. Such situation would cause many problems with the large influx of patients, and a solution would be to allocate emergency fundings prior to any crisis.

References
  1. "Health Care Systems – Four Basic Models | Physicians for a National Health Program". www.pnhp.org. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  2. "Health Care Reform: Learning From Other Major Health Care Systems | Princeton Public Health Review". pphr.princeton.edu. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  3. "International Health Care Systems Part 1: The Beveridge Model". Morning Sign Out. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  4. "WHO | Health systems financing: the path to universal coverage". WHO. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  5. Kutzin, Joseph (21 November 2011). "Bismarck vs. Beveridge: Is There Increasing Convergence Between Health Financing Systems?". World Health Organization.
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