PUBLIC HOSPITALS

Public hospitals stand as monuments to the radical idea that people shouldn’t die because they’re poor, unlucky, or born on the wrong side of an insurance plan. They’re the beating heart of universal healthcare systems worldwide, offering everything from emergency surgery to prenatal care, often under immense pressure and with heroic dedication.

Take the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), founded after World War II with the revolutionary promise of healthcare free at the point of use. Despite funding challenges and political wrangling, the NHS remains a cherished institution, consistently ranking high in measures of equity and efficiency. Or consider France, where public hospitals form the backbone of a healthcare system ranked among the best globally, providing nearly free care.

Public hospitals prioritize health over profit, focusing on patient outcomes rather than shareholder returns. They serve everyone, from the homeless person needing basic wound care to the wealthy executive requiring complex surgery—no questions asked, no wallets emptied.

But beyond access, public hospitals are engines of public health. They lead vaccination campaigns, respond to epidemics, and provide critical care during natural disasters. During the COVID-19 pandemic, public hospitals worldwide were on the frontlines, often overwhelmed but unwavering. In Italy, public hospitals bore the brunt of the crisis, with healthcare workers risking their lives to save others. Their resilience wasn’t a product of corporate efficiency models—it was the result of a public system committed to care as a social good. For profit hospitals did not perform as well, exposing the fragility of healthcare systems dependent on market logic.

Public hospitals also train the next generation of doctors, nurses, and specialists. They are teaching hospitals, research hubs, and incubators for medical innovation. In Brazil, the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) not only provides universal healthcare but also supports medical education and research, contributing to global knowledge on infectious diseases, public health strategies, and epidemiology.

Public hospitals foster equity. Health disparities—rooted in race, class, geography, and more—are stark reminders that access to care isn’t distributed equally. In South Africa, public hospitals play a vital role in addressing the legacy of apartheid-era healthcare inequalities, providing essential services to marginalized communities. In Cuba, a country with limited resources but a strong public health infrastructure, public hospitals contribute to health indicators that rival those of wealthier nations.

The psychological impact of public hospitals extends beyond patients to entire communities. Knowing that care is available when needed reduces anxiety, fosters social trust, and promotes a sense of security. This collective well-being is measurable. Societies with universal public healthcare report higher life satisfaction, lower stress levels, and greater trust in institutions.

Housing instability, food insecurity, and environmental hazards all impact health outcomes. Public hospitals often partner with community organizations to tackle these root causes, embodying a holistic approach to care. The Health Leads program in the U.S. operates within public hospitals to connect patients with resources beyond medical treatment—like housing support, food assistance, and legal aid. The Basel Public Hospital in Switzerland integrates social workers, mental health professionals, and community health advocates into patient care.

Public hospitals are often more cost-effective than their private counterparts. A 2018 report by The Commonwealth Fund found that countries with robust public healthcare systems spend less per capita on healthcare while achieving better health outcomes. This is the result of eliminating profit margins, reducing administrative overhead, and focusing on preventive care.

The environmental role of public hospitals is also emerging as critical. Healthcare systems are major consumers of energy and producers of waste. Public hospitals can lead in sustainability, implementing green building designs, reducing pharmaceutical pollution, and promoting environmentally friendly practices. In Sweden, public hospitals are part of the country’s ambitious climate goals, incorporating renewable energy, sustainable procurement, and waste reduction strategies.

Yet despite their importance, public hospitals face chronic underfunding and political neglect. Austerity measures, privatization pressures, and market-based reforms threaten their integrity. In the UK, for example, creeping privatization within the NHS has sparked widespread concern about eroding the very principles that made it a model for the world.

Public hospitals are social contracts, embodying the principle that we are all responsible for each other’s well-being. They stand as reminders that in a just society, no one should have to choose between health and financial ruin.

Investing in public hospitals is about creating healthier societies every day. It’s about maternal health clinics reducing infant mortality, mental health services preventing crises, and emergency rooms saving lives regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.

Public hospitals also foster medical innovation. Some of the most groundbreaking research in history has emerged from public institutions, from vaccines to surgical techniques to public health strategies. The focus is on what’s possible, not what’s profitable.

Culturally, public hospitals reflect our collective values. They’re spaces where human dignity is affirmed—not by the luxury of the waiting room but by the quality of care provided to everyone, equally. They’re where the most profound moments of life happen: births, recoveries, goodbyes. They are sacred spaces, not because of any ritual but because of the raw, unfiltered humanity they hold.

Therefore, under Folklaw:

Public hospitals shall be established, funded, and maintained as essential institutions providing comprehensive, accessible, and equitable healthcare to all. Healthcare will be recognized as a fundamental human right, with services free at the point of use and universally available regardless of income, status, or geography.

Public hospitals will prioritize preventive care, community health, and social determinants of health, integrating medical services with social support. Funding will support medical research, professional training, and sustainable practices.

Public hospitals will resist privatization, uphold patient dignity, and serve as pillars of public health, social equity, and collective well-being.