Our crappy healthcare system
The United States spends more than any other country in the world on healthcare. You'd think for all that money we'd have spectacular health care. I mean amazing, comprehensive, bright and shiny health care.
NO!
The US is ranked 36 in infant mortality. The Czech Republic has lower rates of infant mortality at #9. Singapore is #1. Here's the entire list.
And check out this website. It compares US healthcare statistics to Japan, Norway, Denmark, France, the UK, Canada, Netherlands, German, Switzerland, Sweden and Finland.
For the amount of money that's put into healthcare in the U.S. we could have the BEST single payer system in the entire world. We could have every single person in this country with healthcare. Every single person could see their doctor when something felt wrong and not have to wait until the cancer is eating up their body and they have to visit the emergency room. There would be no waiting lists for operations. Everyone could get the medications they need. It could be healthcare utopia.
But no, we cling to a system that is inadequate and expensive. Is it because we want people living in poverty and the marginalized to continue to suffer. Is it okay for us to live our comfortable lives on the backs of their suffering?
It's time to ask WHY we allow this and start working for a solution.
posted by Sacha @ 5:16 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Right on! Wait! aren't you, like, IN the health profession? Don't they draw and quarter for that blasphemy? (well, you have my Kudos, for whatever they are worth)
Hi, I've just come across your blog, I really like your drawings they havea lot of expression. Good luck in your baby quest :)
Just a little input here, completely agree with km on the infant mortality figures.
As for the cost, one word can really describe it, lawsuits.
Have to make sure that the patient isn't that .01% that has something rare with the same symptoms, otherwise they might come back and sue. Anyways, thats how it was described to me in my EMT training.
I live in Canada and am fortunate for our complete health care coverage. My brother was diagnosed with Lukemia as a child and is now a healthy adult. Without Canada's health care system our family would have been financially ruined or my brother wouldn't be here. I can't imagine having to think about the financial impact of every doctors visit or test. I hope that change is on its way for the US!
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