I think it's good to have some perspective on the claims of how wonderful some other countries health care is when trying to follow these debates.
Let's rewind back to 2004 and take a look at the French system. This is about the time the U.N declared France the #1 health care system in the world. We were ranked about 30th. Right next to Cuba.
Partial quote:
The report says citizens must pay more and
doctors must alter their behaviour.
The warning comes after thousands of health workers protested on Thursday over staff shortages and the "creeping privatisation" of the health system.
The report says an ageing population and the high cost of advanced treatments will help
push health spending past 9% of gross domestic product - one of the highest levels in the world.
Problems in the French health system were exposed last year, when a heat wave killed around 15,000 mostly elderly people.
There was also a bed shortage in hospitals in December, when a nationwide flu and bronchitis epidemic broke out.
End quote.
BBC NEWS | Europe | French healthcare is 'badly run'
This is our future. Once National health care is passed, it will be the number one political issue for all politicians for every election cycle. "Reforming the system" will be a never ending chant. "Lowering costs" will be another.
