Businessweek created a slideshow depicting the best countries for healthcare. According to Businessweek:
Among seven nations surveyed, the U.S. ranks lowest in patient satisfaction with overall medical care
30% of U.S. respondents said that they had to pay more than $1000 in out-of-pocket medical costs last year, while 1/3 of those surveyed from the U.S. said that the healthcare system needs to be completely revamped.
Top countries
1. Australia
National spending per capita: $3, 128
Percentage of National GDP: 9.5%
Healthcare System needs to be rebuilt completely: 18% think so
2. Canada
National spending per capita: $3, 326
Percentage of National GDP: 9.8%
Healthcare System needs to be rebuilt completely: 12% think so
3. Germany
National spending per capita: $3, 287
Percentage of National GDP: 10.7%
Healthcare System needs to be rebuilt completely: 27% think so
4. Netherlands
National spending per capita: $3, 094
Percentage of National GDP: 9.2%
Healthcare System needs to be rebuilt completely: 9% think so
5. New Zealand
National spending per capita: $2, 343
Percentage of National GDP: 9.0%
Healthcare System needs to be rebuilt completely: 17% think so
6. England
National spending per capita: $2, 724
Percentage of National GDP: 8.3%
Healthcare System needs to be rebuilt completely: 15% think so
7. United States
National spending per capita: $6,697
Percentage of National GDP: 16%
Healthcare System needs to be rebuilt completely: 34% think so
The constant improvements of technology from biotechnology to web innovation assist in improving healthcare but perhaps a bigger impact on healthcare would be to focus upon improving the policies and procedures.
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November 15, 2007 at 10:27 pm
The Armchair Economist
Personally, I feel that surveys such as these are flawed. Sure our system is not perfect.. but it offers patients choice.. which is sorely lacking in the other systems (ie: socialized). I feel that the reason why there is such discontent in our system is that it exacerbates the differences between the haves and the have nots.. since most of us fall into the ‘have nots’ category (not necessarily ‘uninsured’.. but perhaps not as well insured, have higher copays, basically grass is greener on the other side mentality), we feel shafted. In a system where everyone gets the same, there is less expectations, and thus people are happier. (this analogy can be drawn to why ‘richer’ countries are less happy than ‘poorer’ countries, but thats a whole other discussion)
November 19, 2007 at 6:50 am
Brendan
Does the figure referring to the % of GDP only count out-of-pocket expenses or does it include government and employer funds as well? If so, how come ours is double? It can’t be choice, because the uninsured third of our country doesn’t really have one…