Balancing Healthcare Resource Allocation Models

UNIT 4 LEARNING JOURNAL Three models of human resource allocation—the administrative, altruistic, and entrepreneurial models—are covered in Kluge's article "Resource Allocation in Health Care: Implications of Models of Medicine as a Profession." Every one of these models represents a distinct strategy for allocating healthcare resources and services. According to my observations of the healthcare system in my nation, the dominant model appears to be a combination of the administrative and entrepreneurial models, with very minor components of the altruistic model. According to Kluge, the Entrepreneurial Model is built on market-driven principles, with healthcare professionals functioning as autonomous actors and resource distribution determined by supply and demand. Profit-making is given priority in this approach, which frequently results in competition among healthcare providers. According to my observations, this paradigm is primarily used by private healthcare facilities in my nation. A person's financial situation or health insurance coverage frequently determines their access to high-quality services, specialized treatments, and speedier medical attention. People who can afford high-end care and those who only use public healthcare services are separated as a result. In contrast, the Administrative Model places a strong emphasis on structured planning and government control to ensure that healthcare resources are distributed fairly. This concept is reflected in public hospitals and clinics in my nation, where services are ostensibly accessible to all citizens but in reality are frequently plagued by lengthy wait times, a lack of resources, and overworked staff. Even if equitable access is the goal, insufficient financing and ineffective management can occasionally lower the standard of care. Although they are less common, community health initiatives and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that offer free or inexpensive services to underserved communities exhibit elements of the Altruistic Model. The selfless conviction that medical personnel have a moral obligation to treat patients according to their need rather than their financial situation is reflected in these programs. I think that the current balance swings too much towards the Entrepreneurial Model, which leads to inequities in healthcare access, even though I recognize that a mixed approach is necessary owing to logistical and economic realities. I would support a more robust combination of the administrative and altruistic models if I could alter the system. Inequities could be decreased by bolstering public healthcare funding, putting transparent resource management into place, and assisting community-based health initiatives. Furthermore, encouraging medical personnel to practice in underprivileged communities may help close the gap between need-based treatment and profit-driven care. In the end, a more balanced strategy will guarantee that the fundamental idea of fair healthcare access is upheld even while market-driven innovation persists. A more successful and inclusive healthcare system might be created by incorporating aspects of all three models, such as the altruistic model's compassion, the administrative model's organized planning, and the entrepreneurial model's efficiency. REFERENCES: ●​ Kluge, E.-H. W. (2007). Resource allocation in health care: Implications of models of medicine as a profession. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 10(3), 249–256.