This paper examines the United States' exceptionally high per capita healthcare expenditures relative to other developed nations, noting that the US spends $8,508 per person—nearly double Canada's spending. While high spending capacity enables the US to address certain baseline health indicators, the paper argues that chronic conditions linked to lifestyle and behavior require preventive rather than reactive approaches. The author recommends comprehensive public health education campaigns, greater integration of health messaging into mainstream media, and healthcare policy reforms to improve population outcomes and affordability.
The per capita health care expenditures for the United States are exorbitant, particularly when compared to those of other countries. In fact, spending on health care per person in the US is substantially higher than that of other developed nations. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), the US led the world in healthcare expenditures per capita at a rate of $8,508 for each person, which translates to approximately 17.7 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (OECD, 2011). Neighboring Canada, meanwhile, spends approximately half of that amount—$4,522—which translates to nearly 11 percent of its GDP.
The country that comes closest to the United States in these two areas of spending is Norway, a developed European country, which spends about $5,669 per person or 11 percent of its GDP. Even Mexico, which is still considered developed yet struggles with economic difficulties exacerbated by developing-nation challenges, spends nearly $1,000 per person, equivalent to about 6.2 percent of its GDP. These figures present significant ramifications about the state of global healthcare and the strategies countries can employ to maintain citizen health.
The excessively high per capita expenditure in the US indicates that the country does have funds available for healthcare spending. However, it also shows that spending is increasing disproportionately to the country's income—a global trend that has accelerated in recent years (Kaiser, 2011). Additionally, high spending may indicate that the US has greater healthcare needs, meaning its citizens experience more healthcare issues. Developed countries generally can spend more than non-developed countries, regardless of the underlying cause.
When determining strategies to improve America's health outcomes on global health indicators, it is necessary to consider both its strengths and weaknesses. Since the US is a developed country with considerable healthcare spending per capita, many basic health indicators that plague underdeveloped countries do not apply to it. Good examples include infant mortality rates, life expectancy at birth, and maternal mortality ratios—indicators largely neutralized by living in a developed country with sanitary conditions and infrastructure.
Current global health epidemics such as the Ebola virus have not reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Another global health concern is avian influenza (WHO, 2015). Although the US has not reached epidemic rates for this illness, it could utilize strategic measures to reduce its incidence as well as that of conventional influenza. One viable strategy would include an aggressive public health campaign educating people about the dangers of avian influenza and emphasizing how manageable the disease is through precautionary measures.
Such measures include covering mouths when coughing and yawning, increasing vitamin intake and rest during seasonal transitions, and taking active steps not to transmit illness when affected. The US has the financial resources to activate such a campaign and could do so readily. However, there are numerous chronic conditions—particularly those related to nutrition, cardiovascular health, diabetes, and other terminal conditions—that the US should dedicate action to reducing. These conditions appear significantly affected by eating habits and environment.
The main strategy that policymakers need to utilize for addressing these health indicators is a preventative one. Research has identified certain factors and commonalities related to various chronic conditions that pertain to exercise, dietary habits, and living conditions. For instance, individuals can decrease the likelihood of certain cardiovascular conditions through regular exercise and proper nutrition. Eating proper foods also includes avoiding foods linked to unhealthy conditions.
Dietary and lifestyle modifications have been documented as effective interventions for preventing many chronic diseases. Policymakers should emphasize that unless individuals are born with certain genetic conditions, many of the aforementioned illnesses are preventable through individual behavior and choices. This information needs to be publicly available in salient locations rather than confined to obscure books or websites. Every healthcare facility should include consultation sessions about these realities, particularly for individuals at ages more susceptible to these conditions.
"Proposed education and policy reforms"
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