Opinion: How living and practicing medicine abroad complicated my beliefs about universal health care systems

Article excerpt

A physician who practiced medicine abroad shares a more nuanced view of universal health care, arguing that access alone isn't enough, systems must also guarantee safety and accountability. The author, who previously held strong convictions about universal care, found that living outside the U.S. exposed gaps in how some countries balance providing coverage for all patients with ensuring quality standards and holding providers responsible for outcomes. The piece walks a middle line: endorsing universal access while cautioning that implementation matters as much as the ideal.