In this day and age, economic growth has increased the standards of living in many countries. This means that a country’s government should be able to address public issues, such as healthcare. With this in mind, some believe that healthcare services should be free for citizens and that the government should foot the bill. In my opinion, I totally agree with this statement because a healthy work force can further raise economic growth and, furthermore, equal access to healthcare services can be achieved if the government is the one who provides this service.
It is important to acknowledge that a healthy work force contributes to further economic growth of a country. Yet, healthcare is one of the most expensive items in a family’s budget. For example, if you have a motorbike accident and break your leg, the surgery and related medicines could cost you 100 million VND, yet your monthly income is only 5 million VND. By absorbing the costs of healthcare, the government can alleviate one of the costliest items in a family’s budget and keep the country’s work force in good shape, thereby empowering workers to become more productive in the labor market.
Moreover, it is imperative to understand that when a product or service is very expensive, not everyone can afford it. Healthcare is not a luxury item but a necessity. Therefore, it would behoove the government to distribute healthcare in a manner that is equitable among its citizens. For example, the heart attack of a famous rap singer is no different than the heart attack of a poor university student. Both require urgent care. Both the famous rap singer and the poor university student should have equal access to medicines and operations as needed. Since healthcare, including heart surgeries and related medicines, is very expensive and cannot be afforded by everyone, the government should step in to more evenly distribute this product.
In conclusion, while healthcare services can be quite costly for ordinary citizens, the government can play a productive role by ensuring equal access, whether you are a poor university student or a rich singer. Lastly, a healthy labor force makes for strong economic growth and can propel the country to a higher position in the world.