Health care is one of the basic necessities that a government should provide to its citizens. In some countries, it is amazing how they are able to maintain health care systems that are indeed catered towards the well-being of its citizens. Although some may be a bit costly, most of these health care systems truly regard their people’s health as their main priority.

Here is a list of the 10 best health care systems in the world.

10. Cuba

Even with all the controversies that the Cuban government is facing regarding their health care system, there is one thing that Cubans are pretty good at, and that is preventive care. They make sure that citizens are always aware of the need to exercise, have a proper diet and maintain good hygiene. There are practitioners that do home inspections so that they could monitor the household situation.

9. Italy

Most citizens in Italy do not have any private insurance because their government is able to cover most of their health care needs. This is true despite the fact that they have one of the lowest rates of health care spending per capita compared to first world nations like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Switzerland. With the average Italian living up to 80.5 years, it’s no wonder that Italy ranks 12th in the world in terms of life expectancy. Whether they choose public or private care, Italians are assured of receiving quality health care.

8. Japan

The average Japanese are expected to live up to 86 years, which is an indication of how advanced and citizen-friendly the country’s health care system is. They also boast of a low per capita health care costs compared to their other Asian counterparts. They have one of the best recovery rates from major illnesses in the entire planet and have one of the lowest infant mortality rates at only three deaths for every 1000 live births.

7. France

In recent years, France has been regarded to be one of the top countries that have the best health care system in the world. This is due to the fact that they have a universal health care system that is funded by their people’s contributions, which is based on their income. Therefore, the government in return is able to reimburse almost 70% of its citizens’ medical bills.

The French people are even given the freedom to choose any health provider they prefer and some could even go on a same-day appointment. Meanwhile, those that can afford a private health plan may opt to avail one instead. This can cover the balance of any medical expense that goes beyond what the government can support. Although there were talks about the government’s high spending, the people still receive the best health care and maintenance for their money. According to a study, France accumulated the lowest numbers of deaths that could have been prevented with basic health care.

6. Germany

It is imperative for all citizens to have medical insurance in Germany. They purchase these from non-profit funds. Of these 200 plans available, no entity is allowed to deny a citizen of coverage, even for pre-existing conditions. To afford this kind of health care, Germans dedicate 8% of their salaries into a sickness fund and their employers consequently match it.

Public assistance is available for those who can’t afford it. Children, however, are covered by taxpayers’ fund. Disease management programs have been made successful in Germany as well. They found that when doctors or nurses follow up on patients through counseling, rates of prevalent diseases such as heart defects and diabetes substantially decrease. However, German doctors feel that they are somewhat underpaid because instead of charging per test or per appointment, they are provided with quarterly budgets that are determined by the average number of patients they see.

5. Britain

The British people have rationalized their health care system. Therefore, aside from paying for people’s insurance, the government is also in charge of employing doctors and running hospitals. So when a patient goes to a medical facility, all of the services he avails are already prepaid. This does not, however, cover prescription drugs. There is a $45,000 threshold for these services though, and it is the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s (NICE) job to approve requests to use it.

4. Canada

Canadians receive proper health care that are funded via their income and sales taxes. Unlike the British system, doctors and hospitals are private entities. Canadian health care providers bill the government so that citizens only have to pay for dentistry, optometry, and prescription drugs. Although it is said that health care is beginning to be quite costly in Canada, they still spend less than their counterparts in the United States.

3. China

Amidst issues faced by China regarding their health care system a few years back, China today is now in the midst of a major health care reform initiative. The Chinese government allots $124 billion for health care, ensuring that at least 90% of their population have health insurance. The country is also set to build 700,000 new clinics for its citizens.

2. Switzerland

The Swiss have had universal coverage since 1994 and it is provided by private insurance. It is said though that Switzerland has the most expensive health care cost, second to the United States. Unlike the ones in the U.S., insurance in Switzerland is not employment-based. Citizens choose from a variety of private plans and those who can’t afford it could receive subsidies from the government. In addition, everyone’s premium is the same. Private insurance companies aren’t allowed to price basic health care too, only dental and alternative medicine.

1. Taiwan

The Taiwanese government pays for all its citizens’ health care needs. They were able to cover the needs of the population yet have managed to decrease health care costs. Much credit is given to the rise in the use of smart cards. These smart cards already contain the patient’s medical history from birth, making it easy for doctors to diagnose any health issue. This also significantly cuts down time on paperwork, which could be a probable cause of additional costs from medical providers. This system is employment-based, therefore, the elderly and those who can’t afford the system are given subsidies.