Difference Between Private and Public Hospitals

Medical facilities are one of the most important facilities in every country, state, city, town, village. Hospitals are found everywhere and it is a place where patients get themselves treated. This is where one gets to visit a doctor and then the doctor advises you to do as they say.

However, hospitals also have two types: one is public and the other is private hospitals. Both public and private hospitals treat patients but there are some differences. The healthcare sectors contribute hugely to the growth of an economy thus it is important for more and more hospitals for the normal people.

Private vs Public Hospitals

The main difference between a private hospital and a public hospital is that public hospitals are maintained under the government whereas private hospitals are funded by an individual or a group of people and do not have any interference from the government.

However, it is a compulsory rule for public hospitals that they have to treat all patients and cannot deny treatment to them whereas private hospitals can have the ability to deny treatment to a patient. But, if there is an emergency then the particular hospital should treat the patient.

Comparison Table Between Private and Public Hospitals

What is Private Hospital?

Hospitals that are managed and funded by an individual or a group of people are known to be private hospitals. Private hospitals do have benefits as they are equipped with the latest technology and healthcare materials.

Most private hospitals have strict rules and policies when it comes to treating people as the owner is responsible for his/her hospital’s reputation in the market. You will see that people tend to visit private hospitals more than public hospitals.

Private hospitals have a better name and therefore they are quite expensive but the more expensive means better treatment as hospitals like them have a good reputation for treating people. However, there is a major con about private hospitals and that is private hospitals can have the ability to treat a patient.

This becomes one of the most difficult situations for emergency patients as whenever a private hospital refuses to treat a patient then it becomes for the patient’s family to go to the public hospital. However, it is now compulsory to treat an emergency patient in both private and as well as by public hospitals.

But, the quality of services offered by private hospitals is something that you cannot complain about because their service quality is top-notch and makes sure that the patient is comfortable during the treatment.

Private hospitals also have the standard for not keeping their patients waiting for long in the waiting area. A patient when arriving at the hospital will require to make their appointment beforehand and therefore it takes less time when they arrive at the hospital to visit the doctor.

However, if there are fewer people in a queue then your turn can come much faster. More specialist doctors are available only in private hospitals and this is why people tend to treat their patients only in a private hospital as people have the trust.

What is Public Hospital?

A public hospital is a hospital funded by the government. In the public hospitals the treatments are quite cheap and the services provided are not up to the quality of a private hospital. Some public hospitals treat some patients for free too.

Public hospitals’ services become very beneficial for people of the low income groups as it is hard for them to afford private hospitals. The public hospitals attract fewer persons as people already have that thought that private hospitals are much better than public hospitals.

But, low income groups tend to visit the public hospitals as some public hospitals are informed to treat them for free. Affordability becomes one of the greatest advantages of a public hospital but public hospitals lack the name that a private hospital has.

Well, on the other hand, doctors are good in public hospitals but they are not as reputed as private hospitals. Patients will get their treatments but they are kept waiting for long periods in a public hospital.

Main Differences Between Private and Public Hospitals

1. Both private and public hospitals provide or offer health care services. A public hospital can be available at every place whereas a private hospital is found to be in a city.
2. Private hospitals are quite expensive and it reduces the affordability for low income groups whereas a public hospital can be affordable for low income groups.
3. A private hospital is owned by an individual or a group of person whereas a public hospital is owned and funded by the government.
4. Private hospitals have short waiting period whereas a public hospital has long waiting periods.
5. Public hospitals can accommodate many patients at a time whereas a private hospital treats one patient at a time.

Conclusion

Both private and public hospitals serve as a healthcare unit for the common people. A public hospital will not judge you whether you are a rich person or a poor as they will treat every person and cannot deny treatment to any patient.

However, the mentality is such in the Indian society that a private hospital is far more superior than a public hospital. Well, this is not the case every time as failure can happen even by an experienced doctor but the chances will be less so there is no judging in that.

Well, due to the high prices and fees one can guess that the treatment of a private hospital will be top-notch and patients can rely up on the doctors treating them.

References

1. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/S_Irfan/publication/267218872_Comparison_of_Service_Quality_between_Private_and_Public_Hospitals_Empirical_Evidences_From_Pakistan/links/54bd42620cf218da9391ad2b/Comparison-of-Service-Quality-between-Private-and-Public-Hospitals-Empirical-Evidences-From-Pakistan.pdf
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168851014000219