As the president elections proceed, many analysts look to healthcare systems in other countries to decide what works best. Recently, the New York Times released a story analyzing the “cornerstone” of the British Welfare System. They introduced the National Health Service (NHS) 60 years ago to provide medical care for every citizen. But the United Kingdom never anticipated the problems it might face in current times. Today, the NHS cannot cover all of their citizens with proper medical care. Canada is also experiencing the same problems.

            These conditions have not improved, in fact, over the past thirteen years, Canada’s wait-time has increased almost 100%. Patients are now facing a 17½ week waiting period for surgery. Patients in London are facing about the same wait-times. Patients are facing a wait period of about 25 weeks for more serious conditions, such as cancer and cardiac tests. Some patients participating in the NHS have attempted to pay for medication that the NHS will not provide but they have been restricted. The NHS believes this is an unfair advantage of the wealthy and it contradicts the theory of free health care for all. The NHS requires that those participating receive their entire treatment through them. Patients have come gone to the media to express the harm they face because of this.

            The evidence of problems universal healthcare faces in Canada and the United Kingdom need to be resolved before America jumps into this system. Without a resolution to these issues, America can significantly damage the advances and progress we have made in modern medicine. Universal healthcare is a great theory but those who can afford individual health insurance should have access to it whenever they need it.