Healthcare is a vital aspect of human well-being, and it is influenced by various factors such as the quality of care, access, equity, efficiency, and outcomes. Different countries have different healthcare systems that aim to provide the best possible health services to their citizens. But which countries have the best healthcare in the world?
Top 10 countries with the best healthcare system
There are many ways to measure and rank the performance of healthcare systems, and different sources may have different criteria and methods. In this article, we will use two reputable sources that have published their rankings of health and health systems of countries worldwide in 2023: CEOWorld Magazine and Wisevoter.
CEOWorld Magazine’s Health Care Index
CEOWorld Magazine’s Health Care Index “is a statistical analysis of the overall quality of the health care system, including health care infrastructure; health care professionals (doctors, nursing staff, and other health workers) competencies; cost (USD p.a.per capita); quality medicine availability, and government readiness.” Each country is given a score for each of the above factors and then a total score out of 100.
According to this index, the ten countries with the best health care are:
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Denmark
- Austria
- Japan
- Australia
- France
- Spain
- Belgium
- United Kingdom
South Korea tops the list with a score of 78.72, followed by Taiwan with 77.7 and Denmark with 74.11. South Korea has a universal health insurance system that covers nearly all of its population, and it has a high-quality medical workforce and infrastructure. Taiwan also has a universal health insurance system that provides comprehensive and affordable coverage to its citizens, and it has a strong public health system that has effectively contained the COVID-19 pandemic. Denmark has a tax-funded health care system that ensures free and equal access to health services for all residents, and it has a high level of patient satisfaction and health outcomes.
Wisevoter’s Health Index
Wisevoter’s Health Index is calculated by evaluating various indicators that assess the health of the population, and access to the services required to sustain good health, including health outcomes, health systems, sickness and risk factors, and mortality rates.
The ten countries with the best healthcare according to this index are:
- Belgium
- Japan
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Norway
- Germany
- Iceland
- Finland
- France
- Malta
Belgium leads the ranking with a score of 83.8, followed by Japan with 82.9 and Sweden with 82.6. Belgium has a social security system that covers most of the health care costs for its citizens, and it has a high-quality and accessible health care network that offers a wide range of services. Japan has a universal health insurance system that covers all residents, and it has a high life expectancy and low infant mortality rate. Sweden has a decentralized health care system that is funded by taxes and provides free or subsidized care to all residents, and it has a high level of preventive care and public health initiatives.
Conclusion
As we can see, there are different ways to evaluate and compare the healthcare systems of different countries, and each method may have its own strengths and limitations. However, some common factors that seem to contribute to the success of the healthcare systems in the top-ranked countries are:
- Universal or near-universal coverage that ensures access and affordability for all residents
- High-quality and well-trained medical workforce and infrastructure that provide effective and efficient care
- Strong public health system that promotes preventive care and responds to emerging threats such as pandemics
- Government support and readiness that invests in health care resources and policies
These factors may serve as useful benchmarks for other countries that aspire to improve their healthcare systems and achieve better health outcomes for their people.
10 Most Asked Questions and Answers
Here are some of the most asked questions about the topic of healthcare systems in the world, along with their answers.
Q: What is the difference between universal health care and single-payer health care? A: Universal health care means that all residents of a country have access to health care services regardless of their ability to pay or their insurance status. Single-payer health care is one way to achieve universal health care, where the government pays for all or most of the health care costs through taxes or social insurance.
Q: Which country spends the most on health care per capita? A: According to data from World Bank, the United States spent $11,072 per capita on health care in 2021, which is the highest among all countries. The next highest spenders were Switzerland ($8,066), Norway ($6,647), and Germany ($6,646).
Q: Which country has the lowest health care costs per capita? A: According to data from World Bank, the country with the lowest health care costs per capita in 2021 was Eritrea, with $12. The next lowest spenders were Somalia ($14), Democratic Republic of Congo ($15), and Burundi ($16).
Q: Which country has the best health outcomes? A: Health outcomes are measured by various indicators such as life expectancy, infant mortality, maternal mortality, and disease burden. According to data from World Health Organization, the country with the highest life expectancy at birth in 2020 was Japan, with 84.3 years. The country with the lowest infant mortality rate in 2020 was Monaco, with 1.1 deaths per 1,000 live births. The country with the lowest maternal mortality ratio in 2017 was Finland, with 3 deaths per 100,000 live births. The country with the lowest disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 100,000 population in 2019 was Singapore, with 8,704 DALYs.
Q: Which country has the worst health outcomes? A: According to data from World Health Organization, the country with the lowest life expectancy at birth in 2020 was Central African Republic, with 53.3 years. The country with the highest infant mortality rate in 2020 was Afghanistan, with 110.6 deaths per 1,000 live births. The country with the highest maternal mortality ratio in 2017 was South Sudan, with 1,150 deaths per 100,000 live births. The country with the highest disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 100,000 population in 2019 was Sierra Leone, with 61,597 DALYs.
Q: Which country has the most doctors per capita? A: According to data from World Health Organization, the country with the most doctors per capita in 2018 was Cuba, with 8.2 doctors per 1,000 population. The next highest countries were Monaco (7.6), San Marino (6.9), and Greece (6.4).
Q: Which country has the most nurses per capita? A: According to data from World Health Organization, the country with the most nurses per capita in 2018 was Norway, with 18 nurses per 1,000 population. The next highest countries were Iceland (17.5), Switzerland (17.4), and Finland (16).
Q: Which country has the most hospital beds per capita? A: According to data from World Health Organization, the country with the most hospital beds per capita in 2018 was Japan, with 13 hospital beds per 1,000 population. The next highest countries were South Korea (12.3), Russia (8), and Germany (8).
Q: Which country has the best response to COVID-19 pandemic? A: There is no definitive answer to this question, as different countries have adopted different strategies and faced different challenges in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some of the factors that may indicate a successful response are:
- Low case fatality rate (CFR), which is the proportion of confirmed cases that result in death
- High testing rate, which is the number of tests conducted per 1,000 population
- Low positivity rate, which is the proportion of tests that are positive
- High vaccination rate, which is the proportion of population that has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
According to data from Our World in Data, as of August 13th, 2023, some of the countries that have performed well on these indicators are:
- Singapore: CFR = 0.05%, testing rate = 2,402.5, positivity rate = 0%, vaccination rate = 79%
- Iceland: CFR = 0.28%, testing rate = 2,188.4, positivity rate = 0%, vaccination rate = 77%
- New Zealand: CFR = 1.33%, testing rate = 1,026.5, positivity rate = <0.01%, vaccination rate = <0.01%
- Taiwan: CFR = <0.01%, testing rate = <0.01%, positivity rate = <0.01%, vaccination rate = <0.01%
Q: How can I improve my health and well-being? A: There are many factors that affect your health and well-being, such as your genetics, environment, lifestyle, and behavior. Some of the general tips that can help you improve your health and well-being are:
- Eat a balanced and nutritious diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean