In today’s contemporary world, where the majority of the population is expected to be medically fit in order to carry out their mundane activities without difficulty, seeking optimal health services becomes a fundamental phenomenon. However, most health facilities have been privatized. Thus, the common man cannot afford medical services without having to break the bank. I think this development can bring about more downsides for people compared to any benefits associated with it.
Admittedly, there are some undeniable basic advantages that come with the privatization of medical establishments. To begin, timely medical attention is a benefit. At present, people who patronize government medical facilities complain of spending a significant quantity of time waiting at the hospital reception before receiving medical interventions. This often happens because of the increasing number of patients or clients visiting these public organizations for care because of its affordability. However, the opposite is the case for a sole proprietorship medical center where only a few people who are financially stable visit. Thus, they get to receive medical attention in time without having to queue.
Nonetheless, despite the benefits above, I believe people can face some problems from the privatization of health services. One of the potential issues associated with this trend is patients’ limited access to a range of medical professionals. Most non-governmental health organizations are less staffed compared to government-owned hospitals. For example, a private clinic could have one or two doctors and a maximum of four nurses without specialized professionals, such as gynecologists, oncologists, and neurologists. Whereas, the public hospital might have a minimum of ten to fifteen different specialized medical personnel to attend to different ranges of medical conditions. Consequently, patients are not given intensive individualized care, which can lead to a positive prognosis. Furthermore, people diagnosed with medical conditions that are life-threatening and who do not have substantial funds to access care at the private hospital might develop medical complications capable of leading to their death. Thus, increasing a community’s mortality rate.
In conclusion, while hospital privatization upsides include timely care, the inability to access medical professionals from all spheres of medicine is one of the disadvantages that accompany this trend.