Across the world today healthcare is a major issue in almost every country. Great Britain and France are no exception to this rule. For a very long time there have been long-standing battles between people and governments over how far governments should go to provide adequate healthcare to their populations. For the middle and upper classes, healthcare is usually unproblematic, but for the lower classes they are forced to depend on government assistance. In France, health policy is largely defined at the national level. These actions revolve entirely around two entities called Social Security and Finance. I have found that international healthcare can be very different yet very similar to that of the United States and in the following paragraphs you will see why. French citizens have enjoyed comprehensive health coverage for many years and France can be considered an example of an active system. The French healthcare system is based on free enterprise and the freedom of patients to choose their doctor. La Securité sociale, the compulsory health insurance plan in France, finances or reimburses the health care of almost all French citizens. Taxes are deducted from workers' paychecks, and after doctor visits or the purchase of pharmaceuticals, the government reimburses beneficiaries 60 to 100 percent of their medical expenses. Complementary coverage is also available at an additional cost. Most doctors (about 99%) sign an agreement with Social Security that sets the rates for their services, but some doctors may charge higher rates. #Healthcare is accessible and affordable for French citizens, but it is more expensive for the government. As in the United States, the Social Security system faces an ever-increasing deficit, leading to a search for new ways to finance medical care. Currently, French healthcare policy is looking for a reform mechanism that creates a more cost-effective system without losing the ideals of free enterprise, patient freedom of choice and a quality system accessible to all French citizens. Pharmacies in France are specialized facilities that work closely with customers, ensuring safe products and providing professional advice. Pharmaceutical......middle of paper......divided on the issue of collaboration with the private sector. While 58% of respondents believe there should be "a fair amount" or "a lot" of collaboration between the public and private sectors, 36% do not view the relationship favorably. When asked where the money to fund the NHS should come from, 83% of respondents said the funding should come "almost entirely" from tax revenue. In conclusion, the healthcare systems in both countries have their strengths as well as their weaknesses, but I would still much prefer to have our own healthcare system. I hope these facts about the different systems help you understand them better. Bibliography Cowell, Alan (2001, September 1) Health care gap has Brits looking abroad The New York Times Klein, Rudolf. 1995 The new policy of the National Health Service, 3rd ed. New York: Longman. Wilsford, David. 1991 Doctors and the State: health policy in France and the United States. Durham: Duke University Press.