As I discussed in my blog post yesterday, there is a large gap between Argentina’s public and private systems. From facility quality to technology to salary, the resources are starkly different. While America is no stranger to health inequity, it looks very different.

In Argentina, healthcare is regarded as a human right, and its constitution guarantees that all have access to it. Everyone has access to the public system, regardless of ability to pay, employment, or economic status, and it is funded through general taxes. In America, however, few hospitals are required to accept all patients by law. The vast majority of hospitals require payment for services, and before insurance, even the office visit charge can be over 100 dollars, not including the doctor’s charges. This means that the fewer resources a person has, the less healthcare they can afford. This leads to people avoiding treatment or going into debt

Another difference relates to quality. In Argentina, the private and public facilities differ greatly, but America also differs. Because most hospitals are privately owned, and there are only a handful of public hospitals, it is hard to directly compare the quality. Nonetheless, private facilities have more resources and are more expensive for consumers, similar to Argentina.

Whether you are in North or South America, the quality of care and accessibility increase with wealth.