Which countries have the best doctors? This is difficult to determine as all countries have their own strengths, unique characteristics, clever minds.
A number of factors need to be considered in order to decipher which countries produce the best doctors. Ideally, this question should be answered by looking at the rankings, numbers, and worldwide medical contributions.
Numbers don’t lie, and that is why they are the best measure of whether a country’s healthcare system or medical care is effective. In this article, we have compiled a list of countries based on their contributions to the medical field, educational institutions, healthcare systems, and so on.
In no particular order, we talk about the 10 countries with the best doctors: the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Greece, and Japan.
Table of Contents
1. The United States
Despite its costly healthcare, the United States is one of the countries with the best doctors in the world. However, the United States is ranked 11th – last – on the list of Health Care System Performance Rankings, which is based on infant mortality rate and low life expectancy rate.
Of all the states in the U.S. with the best healthcare, Hawaii ranks at the top. Other states included in the top 10 best healthcare are Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, California, Maryland, New York, Washington, Rhode Island, and Colorado.
As for worldwide contributions, the U.S. is home to many reputable doctors who are contributors to many firsts in the medical field, including the first artificial heart implant performed by Denton Cooley. Other famous doctors who have made significant contributions to the medical field are Alfred Blalock for Tetralogy of Fallot and Anthony Fauci, a leading expert on infectious diseases.
2. Australia
In rankings, Australia is the number one in equity and healthcare outcomes and is third in OECD countries with the best healthcare system. Moreover, Australia has maintained having the most qualified doctors in their hospitals, which requires additional specializations for optimal care.
Australia has produced many Nobel Prize winners in the medical field including Barry Marshall and J. Robin Warren.
3. Canada
Canada is known as one of the best countries for healthcare in the world. Many people around the world seek medical treatment in Canada because of its reputation for having a top-notch healthcare system.
Some of the greatest physicians in the world are from Canada, such as Frederick Banting for discovering insulin, Frances Oldham Kelsey for preventing thalidomide from entering the US market, and Norman Bethune for introducing mobile blood transfusion.
4. The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom prides itself on having hundreds of renowned doctors. For instance, Alexander Fleming is a famous biologist and pharmacologist who first discovered penicillin and lysozyme.
Another famous British physician is Edward Jenner, known as the father of immunology, who spearheaded the use of vaccines. Other world-famous doctors are Francis Crick for his work on DNA structure, William Harvey for discovering blood circulation processes, and Andrew Wakefield who is known as an anti-vaccination activist.
5. Switzerland
Not only is it known for beautiful landscapes and delicious chocolates, but Switzerland is also known for its renowned healthcare system and major contributions in the medical field. Although healthcare is not given for free in the country, it is required by the country to have health insurance.
One of the most well-known contributors in medical science is Jean Piaget, who is best known for his work on cognitive and child development. Another well-known doctor is Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who created the five stages of grief and researched near-death experiences.
6. Germany
Germany privileges all Germans and residents with free public healthcare funded by a universal multi-payer healthcare system. The country is considered to have one of the most excellent healthcare systems in the world due to its top doctors to specialized facilities.
In terms of world contributions to medicine, Germany is home to many renowned doctors of various fields including anesthesiologists and neurologists. Some of the most well-known German doctors who have made significant contributions are Robert Koch for improving laboratory technologies, Albert Schweitzer for establishing the Albert Schweitzer Hospital, and Paul Ehrlich for pioneering chemotherapy.
7. France
France is respected for having extensive medical contributions in different medical fields, from neurology to cardiology. Louis Pasteur is a microbiologist who is known as one of the fathers of bacteriology and the creator of anthrax and rabies vaccines.
René Laennec is a French doctor who is best known as the creator of the stethoscope and made several research contributions in tuberculosis and melanoma. Other famous doctors are Frantz Fanon, Jean-Paul Marat, and Jacques Lacan.
In rankings, France is ranked 25th in the World Index of Healthcare Innovation. It also ranked 12th in Quality with an overall score of 53.25.
8. Italy
Italy’s healthcare system runs under Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) which provides free healthcare to all legal residents of the country. Italy is ranked the fourth country in the world for Health Care Efficiency.
Top doctors came from Italy, including epidemiologist Carlo Urbani for recognizing SARS and Rita Levi-Montalcini for her work on nerve growth factors. In the past, some of the most well-known doctors have been Girolamo Fracastoro for his work on germ theory, Francesco Redi as the father of modern parasitology, and Camillo Golgi for his work on the central nervous system.
9. Greece
Provided by ESY, the Greek Healthcare System, residents and citizens of Greece are given free health care. The healthcare system in Greece is ranked 14th out of 191 countries.
Moreover, it is also ranked 11th by the WHO for quality of service. Some of the greatest Greek physicians are Hippocrates, the father of medicine, and Agnodike, the first female Athenian physician.
10. Japan
Japan holds a reputation for having advanced technology and a strong economy. Citizens and residents of Japan are given statutory health insurance, which is uniform and low-cost to all.
It is also home to top hospitals such as the University of Tokyo Hospital and St. Luke’s International Hospital. Japan is also home to many greatest physicians including Surgeon General Shirō Ishii and Baron Kitasato Shibasaburō.
Baron Kitasato Shibasaburō is remembered for being one of the doctors who discovered the infectious agent of the bubonic plague. Other well-known doctors are Hakaru Hashimoto for his work on Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Tasuku Honjo for identifying programmed cell death protein 1, and Shinya Yamanaka for the discovery of stem cells.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are healthcare system rankings based on?
According to the Health Care Index, rankings are based on the overall quality of the healthcare system. It depends on the quality of infrastructure, facilities, and qualifications of medical professionals.
Moreover, the cost, availability, accessible medicine, and government responsiveness are also evaluated. There are other variables taken into account, such as mortality rates, average life expectancy, and diseases.
Which countries have the best healthcare systems?
According to CEOWORLD magazine’s Health Care Index in 2021, South Korea tops the list out of 89 countries ranked with an overall score of 78.72. However, in terms of government readiness, Qatar ranks first with an overall score of 98.5.
In sequential order, the next top countries with the best healthcare system after South Korea are Taiwan, Denmark, Austria, Japan, Australia, France, Spain, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Of the 89 countries ranked, Venezuela is at the bottom of the list, the 89th country with the best healthcare system.
Which countries top the World Index of Healthcare Innovation?
Aside from the factors considered in the Health Care Index mentioned above, the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP) has produced the FREOPP World Index of Healthcare Innovation. The new ranking also focuses on the country’s Nobel Prizes in medicine, the power of an individual to choose healthcare providers, the digital healthcare environment, and public finance sustainability.
In the FREOPP World Index of Healthcare Innovation 2020 Rankings, from 1st to 5th, the top five countries are Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, the United States, and Ireland. Switzerland lands the top of the rankings with an excellent overall tier and an overall score of 59.56.
Although the Czech Republic is ranked 8th on the list, the country tops the fiscal sustainability category with a score of 78.78. In terms of Science and Technology, the United States is ranked 1st with a score of 75.14.
The FREOPP World Index of Healthcare Innovation 2020 Rankings compared 31 countries, listing Japan at the bottom of the list, the 31st.
Which countries have the most Nobel Prize Laureates in medicine?
The United States ranks 1st for having the greatest number of Nobel Prize Laureates in medicine from 1901 to 2021. In total, the United States has 103 Nobel Prize Laureates, which is followed by the United Kingdom with 31 Nobel Prize Laureates in medicine.
Other countries with Nobel Prize Laureates in medicine are Germany with 17, France with 11, Sweden with 8, Australia with 7, Switzerland with 7, Austria with 7, Denmark with 5, and Italy with 4.
