This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of private or public healthcare and medical services from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Private or Public Healthcare
Some feel governments, rather than private companies, should be in charge of medical services.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
There has been widespread debate in recent years concerning whether healthcare should be private or public. In my opinion, despite the importance of government regulation in the healthcare industry, a freer system will naturally encourage greater innovation.
The best support for government controlled healthcare comes from the exorbitant costs of private care. The United States is the best known example of this phenomenon. There are countless stories of vulnerable individuals requiring medical attention who face the prospect of years of nearly insurmountable medical bills. If the government runs the hospitals, as is the case in more progressive nations including Canada and England, the average person does not have to worry about prohibitively expensive medical emergencies. Citizens living in these countries now consider free medical treatment for the injured or ill as a foundational human right that governments have a responsibility to safeguard.
However, governments are notorious for stiffling innovation. This applies to a range of sectors and can best be evidenced by the failure of communism as an economic model. The less extreme forms of socialism that guide many European nations guarantee basic care but hospitals are not motivated to compete and excel. Despite the many drawbacks of the U.S. healthcare system, hospitals there routinely fund and are driven to uncover new treatments and procedures in order to attract more patients. While surging costs may leave behind vulnerable segments of the population, hospitals have a powerful motivation to produce the best possible results for those who can afford treatment.
In conclusion, medicine should be available for all citizens but this cannot be at the expense of the quality of healthcare. Governments should regulate the medical industry and provide welfare schemes yet still allow for a competitive environment.
Analysis
1. There has been widespread debate in recent years concerning whether healthcare should be private or public. 2. In my opinion, despite the importance of government regulation in the healthcare industry, a freer system will naturally encourage greater innovation.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. The best support for government controlled healthcare comes from the exorbitant costs of private care. 2. The United States is the best known example of this phenomenon. 3. There are countless stories of vulnerable individuals requiring medical attention who face the prospect of years of nearly insurmountable medical bills. 4. If the government runs the hospitals, as is the case in more progressive nations including Canada and England, the average person does not have to worry about prohibitively expensive medical emergencies. 5. Citizens living in these countries now consider free medical treatment for the injured or ill as a foundational human right that governments have a responsibility to safeguard.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- Relate it back to the overall topic.
1. However, governments are notorious for stiffling innovation. 2. This applies to a range of sectors and can best be evidenced by the failure of communism as an economic model. 3. The less extreme forms of socialism that guide many European nations guarantee basic care but hospitals are not motivated to compete and excel. 4. Despite the many drawbacks of the U.S. healthcare system, hospitals there routinely fund and are driven to uncover new treatments and procedures in order to attract more patients. 5. While surging costs may leave behind vulnerable segments of the population, hospitals have a powerful motivation to produce the best possible results for those who can afford treatment.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Continue developing it fully!
- Vary short and long sentences.
1. In conclusion, medicine should be available for all citizens but this cannot be at the expense of the quality of healthcare. 2. Governments should regulate the medical industry and provide welfare schemes yet still allow for a competitive environment.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
There has been widespread debate in recent years concerning whether healthcare should be private or public. In my opinion, despite the importance of government regulation in the healthcare industry, a freer system will naturally encourage greater innovation.
The best support for government controlled healthcare comes from the exorbitant costs of private care. The United States is the best known example of this phenomenon. There are countless stories of vulnerable individuals requiring medical attention who face the prospect of years of nearly insurmountable medical bills. If the government runs the hospitals, as is the case in more progressive nations including Canada and England, the average person does not have to worry about prohibitively expensive medical emergencies. Citizens living in these countries now consider free medical treatment for the injured or ill as a foundational human right that governments have a responsibility to safeguard.
However, governments are notorious for stiffling innovation. This applies to a range of sectors and can best be evidenced by the failure of communism as an economic model. The less extreme forms of socialism that guide many European nations guarantee basic care but hospitals are not motivated to compete and excel. Despite the many drawbacks of the U.S. healthcare system, hospitals there routinely fund and are driven to uncover new treatments and procedures in order to attract more patients. While surging costs may leave behind vulnerable segments of the population, hospitals have a powerful motivation to produce the best possible results for those who can afford treatment.
In conclusion, medicine should be available for all citizens but this cannot be at the expense of the quality of healthcare. Governments should regulate the medical industry and provide welfare schemes yet still allow for a competitive environment.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
widespread debate lots of controversy
in recent years in the last several years
concerning having to do with
whether if
healthcare hospital and medicine
private not public, open to companies and profit making
public owned by the government
In my opinion I think
despite regardless of
regulation rules
healthcare industry hospitals
freer system more open industry
naturally of course
encourage foster
greater innovation more new ideas
best support superior help
government controlled healthcare nations running hospitals
exorbitant costs very expensive
private care not public hospitals
best known example most famous instance
phenomenon development
countless stories many instances
vulnerable weak
requiring medical attention need help from doctors
face the prospect potentially must deal with
nearly insurmountable almost unbeatable
medical bills money to be paid to hospitals
runs in charge of
as is the case in more progressive nations which is true in more modern countries
including such as
average person normal person
prohibitively expensive costs too much
emergencies have to deal with right away
consider free medical treatment think of free hospitals
injured hurt
ill sick
foundational human right basic human privilege
responsibility duty
safeguard keep safe
notorious infamous
stiffling innovation slowing new ideas
range of sectors many industries
best be evidenced clearest support
failure didn’t work
communism system of government with state-owned enterprises
economic model way of running a country
less extreme forms of socialism not as a severe as communism
guide way forward
guarantee basic care safeguard a degree of help
compete fight agains each other
excel do well
drawbacks tradeoffs
U.S. healthcare system United States hospitals
routinely fund typically give money to
driven pushed by
uncover discover
treatments new techniques
procedures ways of treating a sickness
attract bring people in
surging increasing
leave behind can’t catch up
vulnerable segments of the population poorer people
powerful motivation big incentives
produce make
best possible results ideal outcomes
afford can pay for
available on offer
at the expense of to the detriment of
quality how good something is
regulate keep in check, supervise
medical industry hospitals
provide welfare schemes support poor people
allow for gives the opportunity
competitive environment capitalist economy
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈwaɪdsprɛd dɪˈbeɪt
ɪn ˈriːsnt jɪəz
kənˈsɜːnɪŋ
ˈwɛðə
ˈhɛlθkeə
ˈpraɪvɪt
ˈpʌblɪk
ɪn maɪ əˈpɪnjən
dɪsˈpaɪt
ˌrɛgjʊˈleɪʃən
ˈhɛlθkeər ˈɪndəstri
ˈfriːə ˈsɪstɪm
ˈnæʧrəli
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ
ˈgreɪtər ˌɪnəʊˈveɪʃən
bɛst səˈpɔːt
ˈgʌvnmənt kənˈtrəʊld ˈhɛlθkeə
ɪgˈzɔːbɪtənt kɒsts
ˈpraɪvɪt keə
bɛst nəʊn ɪgˈzɑːmpl
fɪˈnɒmɪnən
ˈkaʊntlɪs ˈstɔːriz
ˈvʌlnərəbl
rɪˈkwaɪərɪŋ ˈmɛdɪkəl əˈtɛnʃ(ə)n
feɪs ðə ˈprɒspɛkt
ˈnɪəli ˌɪnsə(ː)ˈmaʊntəbl
ˈmɛdɪkəl bɪlz
rʌnz
æz ɪz ðə keɪs ɪn mɔː prəʊˈgrɛsɪv ˈneɪʃənz
ɪnˈkluːdɪŋ
ˈævərɪʤ ˈpɜːsn
prəˈhɪbɪtɪvli ɪksˈpɛnsɪv
ɪˈmɜːʤənsiz
kənˈsɪdə friː ˈmɛdɪkəl ˈtriːtmənt
ˈɪnʤəd
ɪl
faʊnˈdeɪʃən(ə)l ˈhjuːmən raɪt
rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪti
ˈseɪfgɑːd
nəʊˈtɔːrɪəs
ˈstaflɪɪŋ ˌɪnəʊˈveɪʃən
reɪnʤ ɒv ˈsɛktəz
bɛst biː ˈɛvɪdənst
ˈfeɪljə
ˈkɒmjʊnɪzm
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈmɒdl
lɛs ɪksˈtriːm fɔːmz ɒv ˈsəʊʃəlɪzm
gaɪd
ˌgærənˈtiː ˈbeɪsɪk keə
kəmˈpiːt
ɪkˈsɛl
ˈdrɔːbæks
juː.ɛs. ˈhɛlθkeə ˈsɪstɪm
ruːˈtiːnli fʌnd
ˈdrɪvn
ʌnˈkʌvə
ˈtriːtmənts
prəˈsiːʤəz
əˈtrækt
ˈsɜːʤɪŋ
liːv bɪˈhaɪnd
ˈvʌlnərəbl ˈsɛgmənts ɒv ðə ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən
ˈpaʊəfʊl ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃən
ˈprɒdjuːs
bɛst ˈpɒsəbl rɪˈzʌlts
əˈfɔːd
əˈveɪləbl
æt ði ɪksˈpɛns ɒv
ˈkwɒlɪti
ˈrɛgjʊleɪt
ˈmɛdɪkəl ˈɪndəstri
prəˈvaɪd ˈwɛlfeə skiːmz
əˈlaʊ fɔː
kəmˈpɛtɪtɪv ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
There has been w____________________e i________________s c_____________g w____________r h______________e should be p__________e or p_______c. I_____________n, d_________e the importance of government r___________n in the h___________________y, a f_______________m will n___________y e_____________e g___________________n.
The b_______________t for g______________________________e comes from the e_________________s of p_____________e. The United States is the b________________e of this p________________n. There are c__________________s of v______________e individuals r____________________________n who f_____________________t of years of n_________________________e m______________s. If the government r______s the hospitals, a________________n m_____________________s i______________g Canada and England, the a_________________n does not have to worry about p_________________________e medical e________________s. Citizens living in these countries now c____________________________t for the i_________d or i__l as a f____________________________t that governments have a r_______________y to s__________d.
However, governments are n___________s for s________________n. This applies to a r_________________s and can b________________d by the f__________e of c_______________m as an e_________________l. The l__________________________m that g_________e many European nations g___________________e but hospitals are not motivated to c_________e and e_______l. Despite the many d______________s of the U___________________m, hospitals there r________________d and are d________n to u_________r new t_____________s and p_____________s in order to a__________t more patients. While s_________g costs may l_______________d v_________________________n, hospitals have a p_____________________n to p____________e the b_________________________s for those who can a_________d treatment.
In conclusion, medicine should be a______________e for all citizens but this cannot be a___________________f the q__________y of healthcare. Governments should r_____________e the m________________y and p______________________s yet still a_____________r a c_____________________________t.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Health
- How can people improve their physical health?
- What about their mental health?
- In what ways can teachers encourage students to do sports?
- What is the role of doctors in raising health awareness?
- Can social media also play a role?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:
Some think that governments should tax unhealthy foods to encourage people to eat healthier.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is really helpful for me ,thnx a lot sir for this great effort keep it up
You’re welcome, Arshdeep!
A highly controversial issue today in the air is apropos with the healthcare system. Certain people asserts that public should be the charge of health services while has a different sights onto it as well. In my opinion, despite the benefits of freer system in the medical field, government management has an overall positive impact on society.
The compelling reason to support my side is financial crisis and corruption. In the recent world 65% people are fighting with trade depression to maintain a household activity. Numerous medical operations consist a lot amount of dollars which slightly cheaper in the government hospitals as a result it is an ease for middle class people. If such rights are under the citizen’s hand then situation will become terrible as everyone comes with a possible outcome which can save their banking accounts. This approach will indirectly creating a caution for doctors as they do not have a specific digits income. Under the rules of government equality will manage and it reflects the progress of nation and economy both because such trade skill workers are high paid tax workers.
Nonetheless, detractors have their evolution with credentials and job opportunities. Several master degree physician never getting a high paid workplace whereas operating a private clinic with surplussing charge is only productive method for them to gain an experience and income. To illustrate, in many countries like India above a quarter people prefer a veteran private hospitals than surgery in local centers. While hospitals are providing a powerful result but conveniently and fast focus individual outcome can possible in private sectors who can afford the treatment.
To encapsulate, both the side have their comparatively merits and demerits. It is an onus of an individual to potentially counter the benefits for everyone to pay and get equal healthcare. I believe that, in the future the thought of public involvement will entirely eliminate with initiative of government to raise the position of doctors and medical workers in the hospitals.
Nice work, Y!
There are too many informal idioms though and some collocations are incorrect.
Try to be more accurate and keep working hard!
Would you please tell me which bands my essay is currently on?
Opinions are divided regarding whether the government or privately-owned companies should be responsible for providing medical services for the masses. Although the authorities can make healthcare widely accessible for everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic statuses, I am strongly convinced that private organizations should also be allowed to participate in this industry.
Skeptics of private companies performing medical services may point out the exorbitant prices of healthcare these days. Perhaps the quintessential example of this would be the United States whereby healthcare services are prohibitively expensive. Consequently, the unwell in this country, most especially those suffering from severe illnesses, are likely to face the prospects of bankruptcy due to colossal medical bills. However, when the government uses restrictive legislation to strictly regulate the medical industry, which is the case in various progressive countries such as Canada or England, chances are individuals do not have to bear the financial burden stemming from medical treatment when being ill.
Despite the aforementioned argument, I claim that the availability of private healthcare providers can bring enormous benefits to society. Although the government may make healthcare more affordable for everyone, the public budget may not be able to accommodate the insatiable demands of the public for this service. Therefore, the participation of private companies in offering medical treatment for the masses, be it building more clinics and hospitals or buying more medical facilities, can alleviate the burden the governments, otherwise, have to carry alone. A good example of this would properly be the COVID-19 pandemic that state-owned hospitals fail to treat millions of patients suffering from this disease at once, therefore having to rely on the assistance of their privately-owned counterparts. This is a testament to why it is justifiable for private companies to partake in the healthcare industry.
In conclusion, although the benefits of medical services being controlled by the governments are undeniable, I am of the opinion that the involvement of private companies in this industry is also necessary.
Good work, Manual!
There are some words that are slightly off but otherwise you are around the level of a native speak and should expect at least an 8.5.
Impressive!
Thanks for your comment! 🙂
You’re welcome!
I am grateful that I fortunately hit with this link and collect immense vocabulary . Thanksalot
Mr.Dave
You’re very welcome!