Access to Healthcare
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Institution Affiliation
Access to Healthcare
In my view, access to healthcare is a basic right for everyone. The right to health for all persons is defined as access to health care services for all individuals. Access to healthcare means that healthcare services are available to the people when they need them and where they need them. It also means that individuals should not have to suffer great financial hardships for them to access basic healthcare services (Hassoun, 2020). No one should become sick and die because they are poor just because they are not in a position to access the health services they require. Access to healthcare is fundamental in the promotion, maintenance, prevention, and management of diseases and other health conditions. The three components of access to health care are health services, timeliness of care, and insurance coverage (“Access to health services | Healthy people 2020,” 2020).
All US citizens should be provided with basic healthcare services. The Declaration of Independence states that all males and females have unalienable rights to Life, the pursuit of happiness, and liberty. These rights also imply access to quality and free healthcare. Not only the US citizens but also the US residents. Healthcare organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have been prioritizing universal health coverage (Hassoun, 2020). Numerous key players can be sought out to pay for healthcare services. The government is at the forefront of this list. Medicaid, TRICARE, and Medicare are examples of the government’s healthcare programs that have been doing commendable work in making healthcare affordable (Mehas et al., 2018). The federal government should be involved more in driving the health care sector, and some of the issues faced. Other key parties include private organizations, departments, insurance providers, and patients. Individuals should have access to healthcare services without being forced into poverty because of the cost implications (Mehas et al., 2018).
References
Access to health services | Healthy people 2020. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/Access-to-Health-Services
Hassoun, N. (2020). The human right to health and access to essential medicines. Global Health Impact, 13-35. doi:10.1093/oso/9780197514993.003.0001
Mehas, N., Nelson, M., Pickering, M., Ashemore, A., & Westrich, K. (2018). How are we measuring access to healthcare in the US? — an environmental scan of quality measures. Value in Health, 21, S99. doi:10.1016/j.jval.2018.04.668