OBJECTIVES: Every country wants a good health care system for all citizens with minimum expenditure. By comparing health care systems in Canada and Japan, both of which have a universal health care system for all citizens in its own country, an attempt was made to visualize or search for an optimal health care system. METHOD: Data and information obtained were tabulated and compared from the standpoint of the effectiveness of the health insurance system and the feasibility of its application so as to propose an optimal health care system. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Some of the suggestions and proposals made for an optimal health care system for all citizens include implementation and/or establishment of minimal user fees, centralized rational decision-making processes, private delivery system of health care, centralized computer-aided patient record system, insurance monitoring system, patient education, and physician guidelines.
OBJECTIVES: Every country wants a good health care system for all citizens with minimum expenditure. By comparing health care systems in Canada and Japan, both of which have a universal health care system for all citizens in its own country, an attempt was made to visualize or search for an optimal health care system. METHOD: Data and information obtained were tabulated and compared from the standpoint of the effectiveness of the health insurance system and the feasibility of its application so as to propose an optimal health care system. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Some of the suggestions and proposals made for an optimal health care system for all citizens include implementation and/or establishment of minimal user fees, centralized rational decision-making processes, private delivery system of health care, centralized computer-aided patient record system, insurance monitoring system, patient education, and physician guidelines.