I notice many of my fellow Americans admit there are problems with the US health care system-but they go on to add that the health care system in the US is 'superior' to all other health care systems on earth. Whaaat? I don't have health care-neither do 90% of my friends- I can't afford it- how is that superior to what they have in parts of Europe, where most citizens have coverage?
2007-06-23 08:26:00 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
OMG...NO!!!!!!!!!
2007-06-23 08:28:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
What system?
We have a hodge-podge of cottage industries, no system at all. It would make good sense to socialize basic medical care, if we could agree on what that would be. On the other hand, our free-wheeling is innovative, so if we could get over the idea of being fair, and define what's available on a general systematic plan without restricting those who are interested or wealthy from stimulating innovative care, we could do a lot better. As it is, the right fear socialism, and the left can't allow individualism in the market, so we'll be stuck for the forseeable future.
2007-06-23 21:23:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
American health care professionals face maximum number of malpractice suits from those who pay and others don`t and can`t pay. These poor patients depend upon nature cure or medical tourism to poor countries. So American system can`t be the best .
2007-06-26 05:45:49 · answer #3 · answered by J.SWAMY I ఇ జ స్వామి 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Heck no. Canada has drugs for a fraction of the price that the US charges, and they and most of Europe Asia, and South America have state sponsered drug and health care plans. Taxes are higher, but no one is left without drugs or medical assistance. And contrary to popular belief, your hospital/medical visits and drugs need less approval than The USAs medicare system. I should know. I am on it.
2007-06-23 15:34:31 · answer #4 · answered by Moose Warrior 1 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Not to be trite about the question, but it all depends on what you mean by "best" to start with, and generally speaking, the answer is NO.
The issue, fundamentally, is the rationing of healthcare.Canada, England, etc., do it by setting annual budgets on non-life threatening things, like hip replacements, and if the budget is gone for that year, there's a waiting list, yes.
On the other hand, if you have a heart attack, or need a hysterectomy, for example, you get it, regardless of you "ability to pay."
Here, we ration also, but we do not call it that, and it's by ability to pay, be or have insurance, etc. But it boils down to the same thing: 100% of everything is not offered to 100% of either population, but there, they get their pills, and their life saving critical surgeries, regardless of income.
Is it safer, more advanced, here? Not at all, unless you compare to third world countries.
2007-06-23 16:11:01 · answer #5 · answered by meek1957 2 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Though the American health care system has serious problems, it is definitely superior to the systems in many parts of Europe. In particular, the health care system in the UK is a disaster. Officially, everyone in the UK is covered, but the health care system there is awful, and it's a vast bureaucracy that doesn't get many people the help that they need. When I lived in England, my "insured" friends seemed more worried about getting sick or hurt than my friends in the US who have no insurance because the English healthcare system is such a mess. Same thing with Canada, which has a socialized medicine system similar to England's, both in its design and in the fact that it is a huge failure.
Many smaller countries with socialized medicine seem to have good, functional systems (eg Sweden), but socialized medicine seems to fail pretty much all the time in larger countries (eg England, Canada). So I'm not sure it would be such a great idea for the US to adopt a socialized medicine system similar to those usual in European countries.
Perhaps what people mean about US medicine being "superior" is that assuming they can pay for their care, the medical care they receive is superior to that in any other country in the world.
2007-06-23 15:43:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 7⤋
We have a terrible health care system..not sure who these Americans telling you otherwise are! We do have good doctors....but they are mainly for the rich.
2007-06-23 22:01:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 0⤋
This is definitely not the best healthcare system on earth.
2007-06-23 15:28:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 1⤋
WE MIGHT HAVE THE BEST DOCTORS AND TECHNOLOGY BUT THE PRICE WILL COST YOU ARM AND A LEG. SO PEOPLE DIE.
2007-06-23 15:31:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 3⤋