Harvard Poll On Socialized Medicine

February 15, 2008

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Yesterday Harvard released a report on “socialized medicine”. As somebody who grew up in England with the National Health Service, I certainly have opinions on this topic. The term socialized is interesting. It obviously was coined to suggest communism, and all the connotations that go with that word, by people who did not want to change the system. It is really a national system, where everybody can get healthcare whenever they need it.

Due to the nature of my work, I interact with people from many countries. I have yet to find somebody who grew up with a National Health system, whatever their political persuasion, that thinks that their national system is not far superior to the US. Everybody is in total agreement on this, if nothing else. Many say (and a few have done so) that if they get really sick and it is not a total emergency that they would leave the US and seek treatment in their country of origin.

It was such a shock when I moved here 27 years ago (I am now a US citizen), when I needed health care to be concerned about how to pay for it. When you are sick you need to focus on your health and getting well, not stressed out about the cost. You have no idea how different it is. If you need to see your primary care provider, if you are fairly sick but not at emergency room level you can get an appointment immediately. For something that needs care but is not that bad, you can get an appointment later that day or the next day. Something bad, you call an ambulance. Your kid gets sick in the middle of the night, call the doctor, since there is 24-hour healthcare.

The main claim for the system here is that the US has the best healthcare. Look at statistics, such as infant mortality, life expectancy, survival rates, etc. If you have great health insurance (as I do) then the care is reasonably good; but for many people not so good.

What about waiting times? This depends on what you are waiting for. In the UK, if you have something that needs treatment but is not a serious health concern such as bunion surgery, yes, unfortunately you will wait quite a while. Have something serious, you are admitted and treated immediately.

Not only is care for the masses inferior, but also the cost is higher. The US government in 2001 spent 13.9% of GDP on healthcare. Japan spent 7.8%, and the UK spent 7.6%. If nothing else a national health service would save the country a lot of money.

The sad thing in the UK is that the government is moving towards the US system. Parts of the system are being privatized. or place in control of charities. The charities are technically non-profit, but seem to be, for the most part, cash cows for those who run them. A great system is starting to fall apart. I am sure in a decade it will be a terrible mess.