Countries with Free Healthcare: A Global OverviewCountries with Free Healthcare: A Global Overview
Where Is Healthcare Free in the World?
It’s no secret that healthcare costs vary widely around the world. However, some countries provide free or low-priced healthcare to citizens or residents.
Here are some of the countries where healthcare is free: Albania, Armenia, and Austria offer free healthcare for citizens by contributing to the Compulsory Social Insurance Fund. They also have high-quality medical facilities and services.
1. Brazil
As the largest country in South America, Brazil is home to one of the world’s most comprehensive healthcare systems. Its public facilities, subsidized by taxation, offer free medical services for citizens and residents.
The constitution defines healthcare as a human right, and even non-citizens can participate in the system. However, it is chronically underfunded and tainted by corruption. Also, its public hospital facilities can have long wait times.
2. Bhutan
Bhutan prioritizes the well-being of its citizens through free universal healthcare. Except for one private health clinic in the capital, Thimphu, there are no private physicians or hospitals.
However, overworked doctors and lack of medicines and specialists make it difficult to obtain quality care. Some patients must travel to India and Thailand for treatment. This is a serious drawback of free healthcare in Bhutan.
3. Botswana
Five decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created an enduring democracy and upper-middle-income economy. Mineral extraction, primarily diamond mining, dominates economic activity; tourism is also important.
All Botswana residents receive free primary healthcare, with a nominal fee charged for some services. In addition, education is widely available and high-quality.
4. Brunei
Brunei managed to slow the spread of COVID-19 through strict quarantine procedures and rigorous contact tracing. It’s also made an effort to break the taboo around mental health by opening up spaces that encourage open discussion and providing counseling support services.
Healthcare in Brunei is free for citizens and residents. However, expats might have to pay for treatment in some cases. It’s advised that they secure international health insurance before moving to Brunei.
5. China
China has made great progress in expanding healthcare access and service coverage, however there are gaps in financial protection. For example, China has disproportionately high incidences of catastrophic health expenditure and medical impoverishment compared to countries with similar economic development.
Legal residents of China pay into a public system called the National Health Insurance System. It does not cover foreigners, but the premiums are very low.
6. India
In India, healthcare is available free of charge at government-run hospitals for those below the poverty line. Private insurance is a common option, and the country also has a national health scheme that covers certain services for patients with a copay.
Out-of-pocket costs are high, and this contributes to the poverty rate. Vaccine illiteracy is another issue that limits immunization coverage.
7. Indonesia
In Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country, a 1960 law established the legal underpinnings for affordable healthcare. Yet it took over five decades to turn this ambition into a reality.
Progress has been shaped by political opportunism, experimentation and compromise. But there is much more to do. Across the nation, access to services is uneven. For example, the prosperous Java/Bali region has low health needs, moderate insurance coverage and high access to healthcare.
8. Japan
Japan offers a universally accessible single-payer system funded by taxes. Patients are required to pay 30% of physicians visits, hospital inpatient care and drugs costs but safety nets exist including reduced cost-sharing for young children, elderly, low-income individuals and those with specific health conditions.
While healthcare in Japan is not entirely free, it is highly affordable for citizens and visitors with a valid Japanese insurance policy.
9. Korea
While Korea provides free healthcare for all citizens, savvy travelers know that it isn’t really “free.” The cost of their national insurance system is factored into their country’s tax burden.
In a single generation, Korea went from private voluntary health insurance to government-mandated universal coverage. There are lessons for America to learn from this system. It is also one of the most efficient in the world.
10. Spain
Spain has a world-class healthcare system that is free for residents who register with the national health service. The system is funded by taxes and social security contributions, with the Autonomous Communities managing the funds and providing healthcare services.
Non-residents can use the public system if they have an EHIC card from their home country, which allows them to pay a small co-payment for medical services. Private healthcare is also available for those who prefer it.