Introduction
Medical sociology is the sociological scrutiny of medical institutions and bodies, which is geared to the production of information and selection of medical methodologies. The study considers the dealings and relations of medical specialists and the socio-cultural effects of medical practice. All the information collected is geared towards improving the qualitative standards and experiences of patients (Cockerham, 2003).
Main body
The demographic developments experienced in Poland lately include the figures of deaths and births from the reference year 2004; in which the figures stood at 363.5 and 356.1 thousands respectively. This amounts to a negative population change; which can be greatly associated to the fertility and mortality decline experienced during the 1990s. The people aged between ages 15 and 64 make up to 70% of the total population; and this can be attributed to the baby-boom of the 1950s whose effects were experienced after the 1980s. The fertility which determines births directly is rising from the 2004 figure of 1.2 towards 1.4 currently at a rate of 0.01 a year. The death rate of the Polish population is on the rise due to improved medical life-saving models that have greatly reduced infant mortality; and which is also estimated to improve the life expectancy up to between 79 and 86.7 in a few years time. In Poland the shift of the young populace from rural to the newly developing urban industrial areas; has increased the rate of alcohol consumption (Cockerham, 2006).
The three major players of the decentralized Mexican healthcare system include; the social security healthcare organ; the ministry of healthcare provision organ and the private healthcare organ. Third world countries have insufficiently developed administrative and political systems; therefore can not operate on this system due to the flaws depicted in the Mexican system, not to talk of third world countries. From the Mexican model it is evident that despite the reduction in mortality rates; the system has faced the challenges of inequalities in access to healthcare services where 10% of the population lacks; and shortages of bed and other inputs are faced with a rate standing at 80.5/ 100,000 people. There has been inefficiency in healthcare spending patterns as well as poor quality of healthcare, as the public sector dominates the system (Cockerham, 2006).
The four major challenges facing the provision of healthcare in developing countries are; the HIV/ AIDS pandemic, the revolution of epidemiology, the high hygiene unevenness and the up crop of new diseases (Brehm, 1966).
Developed countries can help developing ones provide for their healthcare needs more sufficiently by carrying out research and studies regarding HIV/AIDS and other new diseases; funding programs pursuing to improve the sanitation levels and helping in the transformation of epidemiology. They can also help by funding the healthcare provision deficit experienced (Brehm, 1966).
Healthcare in S. Africa is provided by both the private and public sectors; in which the public organ serves the bigger population despite the understaffed and under funded situation. The private sector serves the wealthy who account for 20% of the population receiving extensive healthcare services. A significant proportion of the GDP goes to healthcare, which goes went up to 8.7% in the year 2005 (Cockerham, 2006).
South Africa is the most hit by HIV/AIDS nation; as it caused the death of 250,000 people in the year 2008. National prevalence goes up to 11% being higher in women. From 1997 to 2006 the mortality rate changed from 316,559 to 607,184. 41% up from 29% in 1997 of these deaths are of individuals falling between 25 and 49 years. There have been severe impacts on the productivity and income statuses on the average family. Orphan hood has greatly increased going up to 1.4 million children. Infant mortality has risen due to mother-child transmission (Cockerham, 2006).
Conclusion
Considering South Africa as a poor country; one hit badly by the AIDS pandemic and only 20% of the population receiving sufficient healthcare from the private sector; it is conclusive that, there should not be any healthcare charges levied. This is because most of the families are orphaned; or economically unstable due to the impact of AIDS (Cockerham, 2008).
The U.S healthcare policy would work well for S. Africa, as it is one that spends the most on individuals ensuring healthcare provision to all. The efficiency of this policy would cater for the 80% unable to fund healthcare needs sufficiently in private hospitals among South Africans (Cockerham, 2008).
Reference
Brehm, J. (1966). A Theory of Psychological Reactance. New York, NY: Academic Press.
Cockerham, W. (2003). Medical sociology, Ninth edition. Prentice Hall Press
Cockerham, W. (2006). Medical sociology, 10th edition. Prentice hall Press
Cockerham, W. (2008) Medical sociology, 11th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson Education Inc