The Role of Government in Providing Health Care

Hubert Humphrey’s quote that the moral tests of a government are determined by how the government treats the vulnerable population, including older adults, children, and the needy, is much more applicable to the healthcare system. The government’s commitment to health equity is based on how it handles the vulnerable population faced with health inequity. This paper aims to discuss the relevance of Hubert Humphrey’s quote in the healthcare system.

I agree with Humphrey’s statement. Essentially, the vulnerable population is at risk of several health issues and, therefore, requires a priority. According to Razavi et al. (2020), to ensure health equity, it is crucial to give healthcare priority to the needy, sick, elderly, and children. Furthermore, the well-being of the healthcare system in a society is majorly based on the health status of the vulnerable population. The proposed strategy for health equity is improving healthcare access. This can be done through the provision of affordable healthcare. In the clinical areas, this is observed specialized care and support (Munari et al., 2021). For instance, older adults are offered compassionate care with rehabilitative services, which enhances the comfort and dignity of older people during their aging process. Besides, families emphasize proper handling of pediatrics and geriatrics. Furthermore, laws have been proposed to protect children and the elderly population.

In summary, it is indeed true that the moral test of a government is determined by how it cares for vulnerable populations. Vulnerable populations require a priority in healthcare provision. Society should, therefore, strive for health equity and affordable healthcare for better health access among older adults, children, and other vulnerable populations.

References

Munari, S. C., Wilson, A. N., Blow, N. J., Homer, C. S., & Ward, J. E. (2021). Rethinking the use of ‘vulnerable’. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 45(3), 197. https://doi.org/10.1111%2F1753-6405.13098

Razavi, S. D., Kapiriri, L., Wilson, M., & Abelson, J. (2020). Applying priority-setting frameworks: A review of public and vulnerable populations’ participation in health-system priority setting. Health Policy, 124(2), 133-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/