WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Rita de Cassia Nugem*, Ronaldo Bordin, Anne-Marie Schott-Pethelaz, Philippe Michel, Vincent Piriou

ABSTRACT

Traditionally, healthcare systems can be classified into three ideal models: free-market, compulsory social insurance, and publicly funded. Varying from country to country, has made it difficult to categorize a country strictly into one of these three models. Comparing is understood as the act of seeking similarities, differences or relationships between something that can be described to seek a general understanding. The objective was to compare the national healthcare systems of France and Brazil through a descriptive study. As a result, it was understood both healthcare systems were structured as universal access and comprehensive care attention. They have the same operational design: hierarchized by the level of health care, politically and administratively decentralized, where health is perceived as a citizens' right, based on solidarity. Brazil began the twentieth century with a model closer to the Bismarckian and, in the 1980s, broke completely with this model, starting a universal and free healthcare system. Today, Brazil is seeking to merge both public and private health services, approaching the Bismarckian model again. The French healthcare system tries to achieve the principles of “Beveridgian” universalism by the “Bismarckian” model. Regarding the facilities for health services, both countries have similarities, such as hospitals, health centers, emergency rooms, GP's offices, etc. To conclude, both health systems are constantly changing to meet new needs and to obtain sufficient financial resources to provide a quality service to their population.