Health Care Overseas

[DCJenn]

Anyone catch the NPR series that they've started on health care delivery overseas? They started with Germany this week. Very interesting.

They're going to do France, the UK, the Netherlands and Switzerland as well.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... d=91971170

There are several parts to the series. I thought the interview with the German physician was quite good.

Jenn

Re: Health Care Overseas

I did hear it. My only qualm was that while they kept stressing that one of the biggest differences in cost was doctor's pay, they failed to point out that doctors don't get sued the same way and/or don't accumulate the same debt becoming a doctor as they do here in the US. I could just hear listeners saying "See? Doctors are overpaid! That's our whole problem!"

Re: Health Care Overseas

Two quick thoughts on that article. Administrative costs being under 50% of what they are in the US would make more of a difference than they are giving credit for (just IMHO). The the "putting doctors on a budget to exercise restraint" overlooks the need to do that -- defensive medicine -- more than doctors just liking to do a bunch of stuff. :huh: I'll have to go read the others.

Re: Health Care Overseas

Excellent point. I'm rusty on this and now too lazy to look it up but I think there are some statistics about the last months of life being the most expensive. That seems reasonable in some case but certainly not the example you mention. People want and expect the best but aren't as willing to pay for it.

[MamaChristie]

Re: Health Care Overseas

I didn't hear about this till now, but I will definitely be checking it out. I love programs like this- although they do tend to spark the liberal argumentative side of me =).