healthcare

In the United States, we’re used to speedy service; it’s hardly surprising that in a public-opinion survey, we would complain about any wait at all. But waiting lists like those in Britain and Canada would be a national scandal here. We simply wouldn’t tolerate it.

What about access to the latest treatments? In government-managed systems, bureaucrats and politicians decide which surgeries and new medicines will be available. In Britain, two new drugs for kidney cancer are being denied to cancer sufferers because they’re too expensive, according to news reports.

The Canadian government refuses to buy drugs until they’ve been on the market for years. From 1997 to 1999, 100 drugs were introduced in America; only 43 of them became available in Canada.

In the interest of national budgets, state-administered health systems have an incentive to put saving money before saving lives. Each year, shortages of funds, personnel and facilities force the British system to cancel as many as 100, 000 operations.

In the United States, the survival rate is 90 percent for patients diagnosed with Stage I colon cancer; in Britain, it’s 70 percent. For American women diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer, 97 percent are alive after five years; in Britain, it’s 78 percent. When adjusted for age, U.S. cancer deaths have fallen 1 percent per year since 1991.

>>1
America has no waiting lists because only a small minority of Americans can afford to pay for medical treatment. While the public sector hospitals (paid for by the Government) in Britain have long waiting lists, the private sector hospitals (paid for by the ill person) have very short waiting lists because only a few people can afford to pay for the cost of the operation.

Also Britain does not pay for the latest treatment unless they are proven to be cost effective because the Government subsides the cost of all medicines in Britain. If a new expensive drug performs in a similar manner to a cheaper existing drug their is no reason to use the more expensive version.

While healthcare might not be perfect it does provide medical treatment to all people, not just the richest members of society. It also prevent emergency departments from being swamped by people who have left their illnesses until they are critical in order to recieve free treatment.

>>http://www.businessandmedia.org/printer/2007/20070718153509.aspx

Why even reply to copypasta

If you don't want to wait and you have the money you go to a private hospital. If you don't have any money you wait in line. What's the problem?

America just has far too many people that abuse the system as is, let alone the Hypochondria... With all the free loaders, and worrie worts, the system would be jammed so bad nobody would get treatment... All because some smuck wants a note saying he can't work, or some over protective parent goes nuts...

AS is some doctors don't spend enough time with the people they treat, both from over crowding/understaffing as well as the stress caused from the job, my hats off to all the true doctors and nurses out there...

The basis of my opinion on this matter is the same for most things, to fix one thing you must fix all things over time, for it is all connected in one way or form, and to effect one and not the other will only bring about problems in itself...

>>3
Does 'not a citizen' apply only to illegal aliens or also to people who legally come to America but don't choose to get American citizenchip (this is not a legal requirement to live in America).