Healthcare systems worldwide are continuously evolving, and one recurring theme in IELTS Writing Task 2 examinations concerns the balance between preventive and curative healthcare. This topic has appeared multiple times in recent years, particularly in tests conducted across Asia and the Middle East. Should public health programs focus on preventive care is a critical discussion point that test-takers should be prepared to address.
Task Analysis
Some people believe that governments should spend more money on preventive healthcare (such as education about healthy lifestyle and vaccinations) rather than treatment of people who are already ill. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
This question requires candidates to:
- Take a clear position on healthcare spending priorities
- Compare preventive and curative healthcare approaches
- Support arguments with relevant examples
- Consider multiple stakeholders’ perspectives
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8.5)
While both preventive and curative healthcare play vital roles in maintaining public health, I strongly agree that governments should allocate more resources to preventive measures. This approach not only proves more cost-effective in the long run but also significantly improves population health outcomes.
Preventive healthcare offers numerous advantages over traditional curative approaches. Firstly, it substantially reduces the burden on healthcare systems by preventing diseases before they occur. For instance, comprehensive vaccination programs have effectively eradicated diseases like polio in many countries, eliminating the need for expensive treatments and lifelong care. Similarly, public education campaigns about healthy eating habits and regular exercise have shown remarkable success in reducing obesity rates and related health complications in countries like Singapore.
Moreover, preventive healthcare proves more economically efficient. Studies have demonstrated that every dollar invested in preventive measures can save up to ten dollars in future treatment costs. For example, regular health screenings can detect conditions like diabetes or hypertension at early stages, when management is simpler and less expensive than treating advanced complications. Additionally, workplace wellness programs have been shown to reduce employee sick days and healthcare costs while improving productivity.
However, it would be imprudent to completely shift focus away from curative healthcare. Some diseases cannot be prevented, and accidents will always occur requiring immediate medical intervention. The ideal approach involves maintaining robust curative healthcare systems while gradually increasing investment in preventive measures. Countries like South Korea have successfully implemented this balanced approach, achieving some of the highest life expectancy rates globally.
In conclusion, while both aspects of healthcare deserve attention, increasing investment in preventive healthcare represents a smart, forward-thinking strategy that can lead to healthier populations and more sustainable healthcare systems.
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6.5)
I agree that governments should spend more money on preventive healthcare because it can help people stay healthy and save money in the future.
First, preventive healthcare can stop many diseases before they become serious. When people learn about healthy living and get vaccinations, they are less likely to get sick. For example, in my country, when the government started giving free vaccines to children, fewer children got serious diseases. This saved many families from spending lots of money on hospital bills.
Second, teaching people about healthy habits is important. Many people don’t know how to eat healthy food or why exercise is important. If the government spends money on health education, people can learn these things. For instance, when schools teach children about healthy eating, they make better food choices.
However, we cannot forget about treating sick people. Some people will still get sick even with prevention, and they need medical care. The government needs to balance both types of healthcare spending.
Finally, prevention is cheaper than treatment. When people stay healthy, they don’t need expensive medicine or hospital stays. This saves money for both the government and people.
In conclusion, I think governments should spend more on preventive healthcare, but they should not ignore treatment for sick people. Both are important for a healthy society.
Scoring Analysis
Band 8.5 Essay Features:
- Sophisticated vocabulary: “burden on healthcare systems,” “economically efficient”
- Complex sentence structures
- Clear progression of ideas
- Strong examples and evidence
- Cohesive devices used effectively
- Well-balanced argument
Band 6.5 Essay Features:
- Simple but clear vocabulary
- Basic sentence structures
- Some development of ideas
- Simple examples
- Basic cohesive devices
- Clear position but limited scope
Key Vocabulary
- preventive healthcare (n) /prɪˈventɪv/ – medical care preventing disease/illness
- curative (adj) /ˈkjʊərətɪv/ – relating to curing illness
- vaccination program (n) /væksɪˈneɪʃən/ – organized system for immunizing population
- health screening (n) /skriːnɪŋ/ – testing for early disease detection
- burden (n) /ˈbɜːdn/ – difficult responsibility or problem
- intervention (n) /ˌɪntəˈvenʃn/ – action taken to improve situation
- sustainable (adj) /səˈsteɪnəbl/ – able to maintain at certain level
- wellness (n) /ˈwelnəs/ – state of being healthy
In preparation for future tests, practice writing essays on related topics such as:
- Private vs public healthcare funding
- Traditional vs modern medicine
- Health education in schools
- Universal healthcare access
Feel free to share your practice essays in the comments section for feedback and improvement suggestions.