The PBS Frontline Documentary 'Sick Around The World'

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Recommended: Comparison of health care for nations of the world

Alice Chen CPO 3103 Assignment 11 The PBS Frontline documentary "Sick Around the World", analyzes the healthcare systems of five modern democracies. The film examines how the provision of healthcare varies across democratic nations. According to the Frontline documentary, "Approximately 47 million people do not have healthcare coverage although the U.S. has one of the most expensive healthcare systems worldwide (Reid, 2008)." Washington Post news correspondent T. R. Reid travels to the UK, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, and Switzerland to investigate the healthcare systems in these countries. Two surprising facts discussed in the film is the cost of medical care in Japan and the way British citizens pay their medical bills. When T. R. Reid travels …show more content…

The Japanese have some of the best health statistics in the world and one of the lowest infant mortality rates among the countries in the PBS documentary. According to the article "The Paradox of US Healthcare" by Andrew Kennis, "The overall ranking of worldwide healthcare systems based on infant mortality rates, Japan is in fourth place behind Sweden (Kennis, 2009)." "Another positive feature is the regulations prohibiting the healthcare industry from making a profit on basic healthcare (Reid, 2008)." "The Japanese government negotiates with healthcare providers every two years to determine a fixed price for all medical services and or procedures (Reid, 2008)". Providers are not permitted to deviate from prices set the price book. "All Japanese citizens will pay a standard price for a particular service regardless of where they receive the service (Reid, 2008)." Private interests have less influence over the costs associated with the healthcare industry in Japan. Wendell Potter an advocate for U.S. healthcare reform explains that, "In Japan the lobbying strength of special interests is much weaker when compared to the strength of interest groups and lobbyists in the U.S. (Kennis, 2009)." Despite all the positive characteristics of the Japanese healthcare system, there are negative aspects as well. In the Washington Post article "Japan's Health-Care System Has Many Advantages, but May Not Be …show more content…

"Japan's Health-Care System Has Many Advantages, but May Not Be Sustainable." The Washington Post.com: World News. September 7, 2009. Accessed November 10, 2014. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/06/AR2009090601630.html Kennis, Andrew. "The Paradox of US Healthcare." Al Jazeera English. November 7, 2009. Accessed November 10, 2014. http://www.aljazeera.com/focus/2009/10/2009103164332709367.html Reid, T.R. "Watch Now: FRONTLINE | Sick Around the World | PBS Video." PBS Video. April 15, 2008. Accessed November 10, 2014.

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