There’s nothing more important in the world than good health. It doesn’t matter what your status, job, family life, holidays, or home look like, your health is the number one priority, and you’ll struggle to enjoy all of life’s wonderful things without it.
There’s no doubt that receiving good healthcare is like a lottery based on which country you’re born in, and there are many factors that come into play when considering the countries that provide the best healthcare. From the most highly rated hospitals in the world to the very best doctors, accessibility to healthcare and prevention of diseases and illnesses, it’s often difficult to find one country that does it all perfectly, but there are some that are excelling.
Below, we take a look at some of the best countries in the world for the healthcare they provide.
Switzerland
Often ranking top in the World Index of Healthcare Innovation, Switzerland ensures that all citizens are insured and receive top healthcare. It can be more costly to get medical help in Switzerland compared to other European countries, but those with a lower income can receive social benefits or government subsidies when it comes to health insurance.
USA
Search for the best hospitals in the world and you’ll find that the top picks are in the USA. From the famed Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston to Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, U.S. citizens have the very best on home soil. The healthcare system is notoriously unique, and costs can be high, but those on insurance plans like POS insurance (point-of-service) will find that great care is easier to come by than having no insurance at all or being drastically underinsured like many Americans are.
UK
A country that offers free healthcare to all (at the point of use), the UK is celebrating 75 years of the National Health Service (NHS) and excelled when it came to rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine, being the first country to approve one. It ranks well for its strong performance in science and technology in the World Index of Healthcare Innovation and offers modern, safe, and first-class treatment and support.
UAE
It may come as no surprise that a country as wealthy as the UAE provides a high standard of healthcare to its citizens with a mix of private healthcare and a government-funded public system that can be used by all. Their successful rollout of the Covid vaccine also attracted global attention in early 2021 for all the right reasons.
Germany
Germany has a highly-regarded healthcare system that offers a mix of private and public services with relatively low waiting times and comparatively low-cost-sharing requirements. It’s one of the most medically advanced countries, as it holds a high proportion of the world’s finest medical technology universities and often ranks highly in a number of areas.
Singapore
Singapore boasts top-quality practitioners and technology-rich facilities, offering its citizens some of the best and most efficient healthcare in the world. Statutory public health insurance (MediShield Life) is designed to cover large bills, but it has to be said that expats won’t get the same subsidies and can face high medical bills.
France
This forward-thinking nation offers universal coverage for its residents and provides a well-serviced system with more than one doctor for every thousand citizens. Its statutory health insurance (SHI) system is financed through employer and employee contributions, and with an average life expectancy of 83, the country ranks well for high-quality medical care, accessibility, and medical advancements.
Japan
With an average life expectancy of 84.7, Japan is clearly doing something right, and it’s not just the traditional health-fuelled foods in the nation’s diet doing the job, but the fact that the country offers universal health insurance coverage. The quality of healthcare is also high, and the statutory health insurance system (SHIS) covers a vast array of treatments, including hospice care and mental health care.
Norway
This Scandinavian country excels when it comes to offering great healthcare and ranks well for its robust infrastructure and health outcomes. Taxes and payroll contributions fund a universal health system, and under 16-year-olds and pregnant and/or nursing women receive free healthcare.
Italy
Ranked second in the world by the WHO, the Italian national healthcare system covers all citizens and legal foreign residents. The country boasts a high average life expectancy and low infant mortality rates thanks to its well-trained doctors and top-notch facilities, and the health service focuses on preventative and prescriptive care.
