Why Don't We Globalize Health Care?

[phobun]

SRS is effectively already globalized for Americans.

[trish]

I agree with the gist of your post James, but I do take exception to this

I know there has to be financial incentive to motivate people to research these drugs and all that.

There are plenty of researchers at State Universities and medical schools who for a reasonable salary are fully motivated by the desire to learn and to help. Health for profit is an obscenity. Just a few short decades ago, when the U.S. actually did have a descent health care system, hospitals were non-profit and doctors took the Hippocratic Oath seriously. A recent Gallup poll shows 70% of Canadians are happy with their health care system and similarly for the British. 90% of the French are happy with theirs. Single payer has been shown to work in western cultures like ours over and over again. What does work, is the U.S. system. 40% of U.S. citizens are happy with their health care. Many complain that they thought they were adequately covered but when they needed their coverage it wasn't there. Many complain there is no choice under the current system...if you don't opt for the insurance your employer provides you can't afford another. More and more employers can't provide insurance. Many people are losing their employment and along with it their insurance. U.S. citizens are way down on the list of expected longevity. We have one of the highest newborn mortality rates among the developed nations. We have great schools. People come from all over the world to study medicene and science here. We have the knowledge. But we don't have the political will to use it to help our own citizens, and that too is obscene.

[2009AD]

Why Don't We Globalize Health Care?

By DEAN BAKER

Today, between 60,000 and 85,000 people cross international borders each year for medical procedures, according to consulting firm McKinsey & Co., and the number is growing. But its growth, and the potential gains, are limited by the lack of adequate government oversight.

Health care is already globalized. Oh wait, it's not globalization he wants, it's GOVERNMENT control. Got it.

[JerseyMike]

I'm all for Globalize Health Care, then we could get rid of the undesirable people such as those with mental handicaps that drain on the health care system. More abortions for those that want them, too many annoying kids around anyway that get fat and suck on the government tit. Yay to government mandated abortions, it worked before. Also get rid of all those people over 70 who cost the health care system so much money. After all that is done then we may have excellent health care, but we have to also make sure that we are able to sue those evil doctors either for not doing enough tests, doing too many, or just being over burdened with too many patients to take care of at one time. Actually if we just all sued the doctors then we could all be rich and not worry about health care. Yeah that's that ticket.

[trish]

I'm all for Globalize Health Care, then we could get rid of the undesirable people such as those with mental handicaps that drain on the health care system.

This is exactly what private health care does. People born with mental handicaps can’t get coverage. People who are mentally handicapped by an accident or a disease have their coverage dropped. No coverage, no care. No care, and they’re effectively eliminated. Private health insurance companies make profits by only insuring the healthy, dropping the sick, minimizing care and when possible refusing care. Think about it, how else can a private company make a profit in the health care business.

[underdog6]

i love this article

Dean Baker is one of my favorites on the Huff Post.

Magnanimity really isnt part of the human condition though, is it?
This will not happen.

Americans that have healthcare dont want to pay into a plan that covers poor Americans, let alone poor Africans. God forbid!



Much of the right hates the UN and many socialized nations even more than they do the American left.
How could this ever get passed?

God fobid they pay for thier own heatlhcare. No wait! Then how will they afford the 20 inch rims! OHHHHH The POOR africans!

[Beagle]

+1
no socialism

One of the most despicable things I find about the human race is drug companies. These are the lowest of the low. Selling drugs for profit, when they only cost a few cents to manufacture.

I know there has to be financial incentive to motivate people to research these drugs and all that.

But I still find the whole situation creepy.

what i find creepy is the profound lack of understanding on how drugs are produced.

the cost of manufacturing the actual drug is a tiny, tiny percentage of the overall cost. probably way less than 5%.

the total cost includes paying brilliant scientists to research for decades various compounds. The vast percentage of these compounds don't work. Then when these guys finally do find something that might work they have to test the shit out of it for years and years. Then they have to conform with loads of govt red tape.

When and if the drug finally goes to market there's only a limited time for the company to make a profit. Of course, in today's anti-business anti-corporation climate I realize PROFIT is a bad word.

So, James are you willing to work for no profit?

Then there's the risk of lawsuits. Drug companies have to keep cash on-hand to handle the various lawsuits, which most are frivolous and some are legit. And what is really creepy is the incestuous relationship between the Democrats and esp Obama with the trial lawyers. These ambulance chasers are the real creeps. Just look in your Yellow Pages under Lawyer and you'll get the idea where all the malpractice insurance dollars go.

You're not going to see any serious health care cost cutting until there is meaningful tort reform and that's something Obama will never ever endorse.

So, answer me this...

If the profit motive is removed from drug manufacturing, where is the incentive for companies and really smart people (i.e. entrepreneurs) to take the risk and effort to invent new compounds and drugs?

I sometimes have to shake my head at things people believe.

There's not a single thing our government does well or efficiently. Not ONE. And some want them to run all our health care. Shit, they're not even able to manage a Cash-for-Clunkers giveaway program, let alone your health care.

[Alyssa87]

i love this article

Dean Baker is one of my favorites on the Huff Post.

Magnanimity really isnt part of the human condition though, is it?
This will not happen.

Americans that have healthcare dont want to pay into a plan that covers poor Americans, let alone poor Africans. God forbid!



Much of the right hates the UN and many socialized nations even more than they do the American left.
How could this ever get passed?

God fobid they pay for thier own heatlhcare. No wait! Then how will they afford the 20 inch rims! OHHHHH The POOR africans!

i doubt poor people in africa have rims, or cars, or much of anything.
Just the bad fortune of being born in their time and place and culture.

they have no healthcare to speak of. and it shows.
its very sad.

[JamesHunt]

So, James are you willing to work for no profit?

I have morals. Give me the choice between thousands of people dying and my new shiny yacht, I'd commit suicide

[Silcc69]

Ya'll know it's Kill or be Killed here and Only the Strong Survive. Kindness is a weakness for fools!