Sample #14

"Prevention is better than cure." Out of a country's health budget, a large proportion should be diverted from treatment to spending on health education and preventative measures.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

model answer:

Of course it goes without saying that prevention is better than cure.

That is why, in recent years, there has been a growing body of opinion in favour of putting more resources into health education and preventive measures.

The argument is that ignorance of, for example, basic hygiene or the dangers of an unhealthy diet or lifestyle needs to be combatted by special nationwide publicity campaigns, as well as longer-term health education.

Obviously,there is a strong human argument for catching any medical condition as early as possible.

There is also an economic argument for doing so.

Statistics demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of treating a condition in the early stages, rather than delaying until more expensive and prolonged treatment is necessary.

Then there are social or economic costs, perhaps in terms of loss of earnings for the family concerned or unemployed benefit paid by the state.

So far so good, but the difficulties start when we try to define what the 'proportion' of the budget should be, particularly if the funds will be 'diverted from treatment'.

Decisions on exactly how much of the total health budget should be spent in this way are not a matter for the non-specialist, but should be made on the basis of an accepted health service model.

This is the point at which real problems occur - the formulation of the model.

 How do we accurately measure which health education campaigns are effective in both medical and financial terms?

How do we agree about the medical efficacy of various screening programmes, for example, when the medical establishment itself does not agree?

A very rigorous process of evaluation is called for, so that we can make informed decisions.

Sample #15

The position of women in society has changed markedly in the last twenty years.

Many of the problems young people now experience, such as juvenile delinquency, arise from the fact that many married women now work and are not at home to care for their children.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

model answer:

It is certainly true that the position of women in society has undergone a dramatic change in the past twenty years but I do not feel that this is a direct cause of the indisputable increase in juvenile-related problems during this period.

It is now accepted that young women should find work on leaving school;

indeed to rely totally on their parents' financial support is no longer an option in many families.

Likewise, once they get married, the majority of women continue working since the financial pressures of setting up a house and establishing a reasonable standard of living often require two incomes.

Twenty years ago it was common for women to give up work once they had children and devote their time to caring for their children.

This is no longer the general rule and the provision of professionally-run child care facilities and day nurseries have removed much of the responsibility for child rearing that used to fall to mothers.

However, these facilities come at a cost and often require two salaries coming into a family to be afforded.

I do not believe that the increase in the number of working mothers has resulted in children being brought up less well than previously.

Indeed it could be argued that by giving mothers the opportunity to work and earn extra money children can be better provided for than previously.

There is more money for luxuries and holidays and a more secure family life is possible.

Of course there are limits as to the amount of time that ideally should be spent away from home and the ideal scenario would be for one of the parents (often the wife) to have a part-time job and thus be available for their children before and after school.

It is important to establish the correct balance between family life and working life.