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Sierra Leone Comparison

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Comparative Study of Health Problems In the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the World Health Organization (2015), Japan far outperforms Sierra Leone in all health indicators. Japan, a leader in the world’s economy, continues to focus on reducing health disparities and improve the health of its citizens. Sierra Leone, one of the poorest countries in the world shares the same goals. Life Expectancy and Health Life expectancy are vastly different between Japan and Sierra Leone. Comparing these two countries will help gain insight into how the economy, government, culture, and the health care system impacts the overall health of its citizens. Government Type and Structure The government structure in Japan is a constitutional …show more content…

Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries ranked 149th in 2014 but is experiencing rapid growth (World Bank, 2015). According to World Population Review (2015), 42% of Sierra Leone’s population is under the age of 15. The Republic of Sierra Leone struggles with the burden of infectious diseases, maternal, neonatal and nutritional issues, HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (World Health Organization, 2015). Sierra Leone is focusing on improving health care access and affordability of care. Since the majority of health related problems in Sierra Leone are related to access of care, sanitation, and water supply, the focus should be at the national level to improve these aspects and increase life expectancy and health life …show more content…

This program requires all citizens to have coverage either through an employer based program or through the national program which also includes public assistance to low income households (The Commonwealth Fund, 2015). Insurance companies are not-for-profit and are mandated to cover the same services for the same price. Every two years the Japanese Ministry of Health negotiates the fixed prices and provides oversite for tight control of the insurers, approved pharmaceuticals and medical devices (The Commonwealth Fund, 2015). Citizens do not have the right to choose, but are covered by insurers in the prefecture in which they reside (The Commonwealth Fund, 2015). Premiums are determined for employer based programs and the National Health Insurance Program based on salary. An amount designated as member responsibility can be up to 30% and is also based on salary (The Commonwealth Fund, 2015). After the amount is reached care is covered in full. Private insurance is held by 70% of the population to cover out of pocket expenses, treatments not covered, and lumps sums if members are out of work due to hospitalization (The Commonwealth Fund, 2015). Access to care is open; therefore, patients can pick the provider or service. One of the issues Japan is focusing on is the distinction between primary care and specialist care. Currently, many citizens will go to clinics, hospitals, or directly to a specialist and

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