2017年雅思考试题库：政府为大众医疗买单

Task：Some people think the government should pay for health care and education, but others believe it is not the government’s responsibility. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

有些人认为政府应该为医疗和教育买单，但其他人认为这不是政府的责任。讨论两种观点并给出你的意见。

思路解析：

国家医疗的好处1：一个免费的医疗系统有利于社会的稳定。如果只是富人能享受医疗，而穷人不停遭受疾病折磨的话，则社会犯罪和暴力就会增加。

国家医疗的好处2：这有利于降低医疗成本。私人公司做医疗都是为了赚钱。为了获取最高利益，它们会推荐，甚至强迫病患使用最昂贵的治疗方式和药物，这极大地增加了病人的经济负担。

国家医疗的坏处：这不利于大众保健。举例，一旦看病的费用是政府的公共税收承担，而不是私人的话，则太多的人会忽略健康问题，甚至会放弃锻炼。

参考范文：

What is the responsibility of the government on social medical services? Some people believe the government should fully replace the private companies by supporting the health-care system by itself. Personally, I partially agree with this assertion, and my reasons would be explored as below.

Firstly, a universal health service run by the tax revenue of the government can cover all social classes, both the rich and the poor, which represents the human rights of all social individuals, and which is the precondition of social fairness and stability. In contrast, privatization of medical care leads to polarization of medical services. Only the affluent people will be able to derive its benefits, while poor people with non-affordability would be abandoned and struggle in illness. Therefore, multiple social problems like increase in crime rate and rebellions can be expected.

Secondly, the main motive of profit making companies is to derive profits rather than promoting health delivery system. In order to run their expensive models, they are not even hesitant to do unethical practices, for example, tempting patients into accepting expensive medicine, diagnosis and surgical procedures whose effects might be the same as cheaper alternative ones. Thus, it is reasonable to let the government takes the place of these selfish companies with money worship. This policy can put the priority of health care back into interests of the public, and help to reduce the medical costs as well.

However, the worrying aspect of this assertion is that the measure might cause uncertain or even risky results about the overall health of society. Obviously, in order to avoid the costly medical bills from private hospitals or clinics, every individual has a strong willpower of regular exercise for keeping healthy. However, with a state-owned health care system, all medical costs would be paid by public taxes, rather than by private income. This, eventually, will bring a dilemma that many residents would lose the motivation of exercise, and the level of public health and physical condition will decline.

All in all, I believe the benefits of this assertion overweigh relevant demerits, in terms of its great contributions to the social stability and the cutting down of medical fees.

(361 words)