What experts say about who has the world's best health-care system | Opinion

The U.S. health-care system is broken, but do other countries have it better? Seven leading health economists and public policy experts reflect on one of the hardest questions facing them — and us — today.

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[Skiddins]

Remember a Reddit somewhere, where a particular person had attended a healthcare symposium, the speaker had said (paraphrasing) "America's healthcare system works exactly as it's intended, it's just not intended for the benefits of the patients"

[Archie_Haddock]

I find this discussion quite biased as all interviewees are American or working in the US. It would have been valuable to have input from European or Asian experts as well.

[erikengheim]

As a Norwegian who cares a lot about health care and have lived in the US and the Netherlands and experienced the health care there was well I think the interview here echo a lot of my own experiences and views even if I think you miss a lot by just listening to a bunch of experts in America who have never actually lived abroad and experienced these systems for themselves.

It is true like these guys say that nobody has figured out everything. We all struggle with health care systems in every country. In fact everyone is often so frustrated with their own system that you may not always realize how good it is. I was very negative to the Norwegian system until I lived in the US. But my experience in the US was definitely mixed. Certain things worked very well in the US:

1. Often very highly competent doctors.
2. Proactive doctors. Good at asking pointed questions.
3. Emergency response is very good.

Here is what I found clearly bad in the US system:

1. Zero holistic thinking. Health care is like a product you buy off the shelf like any other consumer good. There isn't much of an attempt at raising general health in the population. In many other European countries one starts much earlier focusing on how people eat, teaching nutrition, getting kids to have health habits etc. In the US this aspects seems to be entirely lacking.

2. You are a customer more than a patient. They often focus more on making you satisfied with the service rather than doing what is best for you as a patient. Over treatment is a clear problem. They give you way too much painkiller and anti-biotics for instance. You get pills which serves no purpose for your condition "just in case."

3. Very focused on pills and procedures rather than lifestyle changes and health advice. Instead of a system which lets people who are not well take some days off to recover, humans are treated like broken machines which needs a quick patchup with pills and surgery. Americans who are not well are constantly pushing themeselves to work, popping pills instead of being given time to recover naturally.

4. Excessive pill commercials everywhere, giving people the idea that everything is about just getting the right pill. That is a general US problem. All problems in the US are presented as being solved by the right consumer product. Your life improvement is always something for a company to profit from.

[richardrejmer]

I am Australian. . Recently my 45 year old unemployed son contracted viral encephalitis and was taken from his home by ambulance and admitted to a large public hospital in Melbourne, Victoria.
He was at first very unsteady on his feet and would pass out every now and then. . . After 2 days he became 'confused' and then delusional and violent and had to be strapped to his bed for 7 days.
There were numerous lumbar punctures performed. . . . MRI scans were done (three I think. . but at least 2 that I know of for sure)
He had 24-hour one-on-one care to monitor his condition and behaviour for just over 2 weeks. . That is, he had a hospital employee (not quite a nurse, but a trained person) sit inside his private room or just outside the door, so they were in direct line-of sight with him at all times.
He had all meals provided by the hospital.
He had constant infusions of anti-bacterial and anti-viral medications . . Literally one after the other around the clock. . . For 9 days until he was well again
And he had steroid infusions (to reduce brain swelling) every 4 hours. .
He had multiple doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists come and examine him and consult with him while he was in the hospital.
After 20 days in the hospital, he was sent home with further medication provided by the pharmacy at the hospital that he had to take for the following 2 weeks.
The bill that he had to pay for all this? . . .
*ZERO!*. . . Nothing. . . . It was *FREE* . . . That is the Australian national health system.
So . . Ask me my opinion of what country has the best health-care system. .

[bingosunnoon]

I just had open heart surgery. The most difficult part of the whole process from diagnosis to recovery was fighting off the insurance company. This is the USA health care system. Only one day after surgery, I start getting notices that my insurance will not pay. They even sent a rep to the ICU to tell anyone who would listen. They eventually did pay, but it was a tough battle that left me feeling beat down.

[JookySeaCpt]

As an attorney who has worked a lot of healthcare cases for hospitals, insurance providers, and pharmacies, I can tell you that the our system is deeply and profoundly broken. I do not know how to fix it, but something needs to change and soon.

[omatousou]

I'm French, had two cancer, fully taken in charge, freely. Healed.
I tried Swiss one that is soo much expensive.
I would like to thanks my country for having saved my life twice

[leewalsh]

“No society can legitimately call itself civilised if a sick person is denied medical aid because of lack of means” Aneurin Bevan.

[AnthonyLauder]

Many Americans seem unaware that in much of the EU, as well as having "universal healthcare" available to all, you can also choose private healthcare, since there are plenty of private hospitals which you can pay out of your own pocket or via private medical insurance. Most people are perfectly happy with the universal system, so see no need to use the private hospitals, but some people do prefer them. That is, you have choices in the EU that are simply not available in the US, where only the private healthcare system exists.

[jesusalbertodelorenzosanta]

0:40 I love how he says that countries north of France have the best healthcare systems despite showing a statistic with the countries ordered this way: France, Italy, San Marino, Andorra, Malta, Singapore, Spain, Oman. Every single one of them are south of France

[StevenKHarrison]

Here is the fundamental question: is health care a human right or a business opportunity. Start there. No of these experts addressed thsi fundamental question.

[creev]

As a nurse and European I can say this. Don’t get sick in the states, have a family, get fired, accidentally tress pass…the list goes on.

[jamesl]

The last comment… absolutely not. I would not want to be in the USA and be terribly sick. I would go broke or die. Or both

[abunael]

I have a good friend who sought medical care of a problem. He was refused to get colonoscopy because he had no insurance. After four years he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. In my opinion, we could have saved if we performed colonoscopy four years ago.

[act_sion]

In the states you are a consumer and a customer, in the rest of the developed world you are a patient

[zandvoort]

These folk sounded like they were absolutely tongue tied by corporates and politics that pay they salaries!

[lordhoho]

No one mentioned that it should be available to all citizens. What good is a system that cures you and leaves you bankrupt. There should be no profit being made by insurance companies who will benefit by providing the lowest level of care. I don't want to be on a phone call with some company arguing that my son needs care that they say is not part of my plan. The US system is meant to generate profits first and healthcare second

[willieG]

I paid $400 for a kidney transplant operation, which costs about 200K in the states. I pay $6 a month for my transplant meds, which actually cost over $3, 000. The Japanese National Healthcare on based on your income. In America after 3 years they cut your Medicare for meds. Terrible Healthcare system.

[manfredkandlbinder]

"protect people from financial ruin" is not the same thing as "affordable and accessible for everyone", i don't think anyone needs to wonder why he puts it exactly that way he did.
Greetings from germany, where everyone, no matter how poor or homeless he or she might be, never ever gets denied any treatment of their sicknesses, physical or psychological.

[thestevenjaywaymusic]

I am British and live in France and the health care system is the best I have ever come across. It is stunning. Top class.