Ever needed medical care in another country and wondered if it would be quick, affordable—or even available? Healthcare systems are something that everyone depends on worldwide, yet experiences vary widely from one country to the next.
In this Remitly article, we’ll explore healthcare systems worldwide. We’ll show you how different countries structure their healthcare, the challenges they face, and what that means for the people who live there.
Universal public healthcare vs private systems
At the most basic level, healthcare systems fall into three categories, which determine who can access health services and how:
- Universal: Everyone gets access to the same medical care, regardless of their income or employment status.
- Mixed: Essential services are free to access, with private options available for those who can afford to pay more for faster or specialized treatment.
- Private: Access requires insurance or the ability to pay for services individually, often through employers or out-of-pocket payments.
Knowing how these systems are structured helps explain differences in cost, wait times, and medical access. It’s also useful if you’re planning on moving overseas and want to investigate the healthcare options in other countries.
Another way to look at how different systems work is by who funds the healthcare system. Again, there are three broad categories:
- Single-payer: A system that is publicly funded, usually through taxes, and provides healthcare for everyone. Canada is a prime example. Taxes cover hospital visits, doctor appointments, and essential treatments, so you don’t pay at the point of service.
- Multi-payer: Involves multiple insurance providers, both public and private. For example, the United States relies mostly on private insurance, but government programs like Medicare and Medicaid cover certain groups.
- Hybrid: This model combines public and private elements. It covers basic universal care, but people can buy supplemental private plans. France and Australia use this model, ensuring universal care while giving extra options to those who want them.
The Nordic approach: Denmark, Sweden, Norway
In the Nordics, healthcare is tax-funded, so residents rarely pay directly for basic services. The tax-funded system covers 75-85% of healthcare expenses. Primary care is also efficient, though waits for elective surgeries and specialist visits can occur.
Patients in Nordic countries consistently report high satisfaction, thanks to accessible and transparent services. For example, 83% of Norwegians with chronic conditions reported good mental health. In Sweden, about 90% of patients say they’re treated with kindness and respect. In Denmark, 90% of patients describe their hospital stay as very good or excellent.
One notable feature of these healthcare systems is their focus on prevention. These countries emphasize lifestyle counseling and fitness as part of their public health policy. Regular checkups and screenings reduce emergency visits in these countries.
Nordic healthcare ranks among the best in the world. In 2025, life expectancy in Norway is 83.23 years, in Sweden 83.62 years, and in Denmark 81.69, showing that well-funded public systems deliver excellent care.
Critics often equate socialized medicine with low standards, but Nordic systems show the opposite. They’re carefully managed and offer skilled physicians, efficient care, and top-quality, timely services.
The German model: mandatory insurance with choice
The healthcare system in Germany combines universal healthcare with personal choice. Everyone gets health insurance, with many enrolled in public sickness funds called Krankenkassen. These funds negotiate treatment costs, handle care, and pay doctors and hospitals.
Public insurance guarantees essential services, while private plans offer faster specialist access, private rooms, and extra services. High earners (above €73,800 EUR in 2025) can choose private insurance for additional benefits.
Employers and employees share the cost of public insurance, about 14.6% of income, keeping coverage affordable and premiums stable. Private insurance costs aren’t fixed and usually depend on the patient’s condition—older adults and people with chronic conditions often pay higher premiums.
Essential care is secure for everyone, and the system balances fairness with flexibility. For example, Anna, on public insurance, may wait a few weeks for a non-urgent specialist, while her friend Max, with private insurance, gets an appointment in a week and enjoys more personalized services.
This dual approach ensures universal coverage, while still giving individuals choices based on their needs and income.
France: high access, choice, and world-class care
France ranks among the world’s top healthcare systems. In 2024, the Commonwealth Fund placed it 5th for access, efficiency, equity, and health outcomes. Residents receive coverage through a social security system funded by income and payroll taxes. You can also add private insurance (mutuelle) to cover co-pays and extra services.
Patients can freely choose doctors, specialists, or hospitals. The carte vitale, a smart health card, stores insurance information and simplifies billing. It allows you to access care without upfront payments. This ease of use encourages preventive visits and regular checkups.
France negotiates drug prices to keep medications affordable. You’ll have to pay only a small fraction of prescription costs, with insurance covering the rest. This ensures access to advanced treatments without heavy financial burden.
The results speak for themselves. In France, life expectancy is high, at 83.39 years, and chronic conditions are well-managed. About 87% of people with chronic conditions report good mental health, above the OECD average of 83%. Patient satisfaction is also high, with 79.5% satisfied with surgery and 82.3% happy with paramedic care.
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS): free at the point of care
The UK’s NHS is tax-funded, giving all residents free access to doctors, hospitals, and emergency care. Government funding keeps administrative costs low, and preventive programs like vaccinations and early interventions help reduce long-term healthcare expenses. The UK’s average life expectancy in 2025 is 82.06.
Despite these strengths, challenges remain. High demand can lead to long waits for specialists or elective procedures. Funding pressures from an aging population and rising treatment costs require constant adaptation. This can be partly managed by using digital tools like e-prescriptions and telemedicine to streamline care, especially in remote areas.
Unfortunately, patient satisfaction with the NHS is low, and the system has struggled in recent years with public image and funding cuts. Healthcare quality also varies by region within the UK. In Scotland, nearly a third of urgent cancer referrals exceed target wait times. Some hospitals in England have longer waits for elective surgeries, and Northern Ireland faces delays in specialist referrals.
Asian innovations: Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan
Asia offers some of the most innovative healthcare approaches, combining technology, preventive care, and efficient funding. Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan have developed systems that balance accessibility, cost control, and high-quality care in different ways.
- Singapore relies on a mix of personal savings and insurance. Its Medisave system lets citizens set aside a portion of their income to cover medical expenses, while Medishield Life insurance ensures even major bills remain manageable.
- South Korea offers universal coverage through its National Health Insurance (NHI). It pools contributions from employers, employees, and the government.
- Taiwan’s National Health Insurance is a single-payer system that centralizes administration and funding. It uses smart health cards to store medical records, facilitate claim processing, and streamline patient visits to healthcare providers.
Each country uses technology in unique ways to improve care. Singapore monitors chronic conditions digitally, South Korea tracks health outcomes through national databases, while Taiwan’s smart cards remind patients about screening and vaccinations.
These systems achieve strong health outcomes at lower costs than many Western healthcare models. Life expectancy is about 84.31 years in Singapore, 83.77 years in South Korea, and 81.38 years in Taiwan. This is comparable to or higher than many Western nations, even though they spend less per person on healthcare.
Healthcare in developing nations: challenges and creative solutions
Access to quality healthcare is a major challenge in lower-income countries, which often have limited resources, infrastructure, and trained medical personnel. Despite this, many nations are exploring innovative ways to expand care and improve health outcomes.
- Rwanda’s Community Health Worker Program trains local volunteers to provide basic care, educate families on hygiene and nutrition, and monitor chronic conditions in remote communities.
- Ethiopia’s Health Extension Program works similarly. Trained workers provide health education, primary care, vaccinations, and maternal and child health services directly to rural communities. This has expanded access for communities that once had little contact with medical care.
Mobile technology is transforming healthcare delivery in developing nations. SMS alerts, health apps, and telemedicine consultations help manage chronic illness and offer guidance to patients without travelling long distances. For example, Uganda’s mTrac system sends weekly health reports from clinics to central authorities, improving disease monitoring.
Global partnerships also boost healthcare access. Organizations like Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance) and WHO support immunization campaigns, training programs, and medical equipment distribution.
These efforts show results. Rwanda’s child mortality dropped to 20.79 in 2025, while life expectancy rose to 70.54 years. Ethiopia’s infant mortality fell to 27.19, and life expectancy increased to 68.43 years in 2025.
What makes healthcare systems successful?
Successful medical systems share key features that enable them to deliver quality care:
- Strong primary care, prevention, and early intervention: High-performing systems invest in regular screening and preventive programs. These help detect issues early, lower emergency costs, and reduce the number of people falling seriously sick, keeping the population healthier in the long run.
- Balancing quality, access, and cost control: Effective systems ensure patients receive safe and reliable treatments. They also ensure everyone has fair access to services and costs remain manageable through smart financing models like tax funding or social insurance.
- Government regulation and oversight: Regulation standardizes care quality and prevents overpricing of drugs and treatments. Well-designed policies also set national priorities, such as vaccination programs or digital health adoption.
- Skilled workforce and solid infrastructure: Trained medical professionals and modern hospitals are essential. Successful systems also invest in ongoing training to adapt to new medical challenges and technologies.
Medical systems worldwide have shown there’s no perfect model, but there are clear lessons to be learned. Strong primary care, prevention, fair financing, and skilled professionals lead to healthier populations. Countries that balance quality, access, and cost offer the most effective and sustainable care.
FAQs
Which country has the best healthcare system in the world?
There’s no single best, but France, Germany, and the Nordics often rank high for access, quality, and outcomes. Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan also shine with cost-efficient models.
How much do countries spend on healthcare?
In 2019, the US spent the most, at 16-17% of GDP. Germany, France, and Canada spend 10-12%. While other countries may spend under 10%, many still deliver strong results.
What is universal healthcare?
It means everyone has access to essential healthcare, usually funded by taxes or social insurance. Patients pay little or nothing at the point of service, removing financial barriers to treatment.
Why do some countries have shorter wait times than others?
Wait times depend on funding, staffing, and how care is organized. Strong primary care and efficient referrals, like in Germany or Singapore, help reduce delays, while underfunded systems face backlogs.
How do systems manage prescription drug costs?
France negotiates prices to keep them low. In the US, costs have been largely market-driven and higher, but recent legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act has introduced some direct pricing for a limited number of drugs.