Socialized Medicine in the US

The conundrum is this:

FDA trials cost a lot. They are also probably inefficient too. Therefore only drugs that can make a good ROI and are proprietary are going to be funded. This leaves out many other classes of drugs that are readily available and cheap but just require a procedure that isn't FDA approved. Why would a pharma company invest all the time and money needed to push through FDA trials so that once it is approved, any compounding pharmacy can create the drug for $1 a dose?

The answer is that the government needs to be funding the creation and testing of new drugs. I'm not talking about single payer health care at all, which is what most people think of when they think of socialized medicine.

Many people would disagree. But we socialize the cost of developing military hardware, like jets and tanks, that's totally socialistic, and these things do the opposite of medicine, they kill. We also give way too much money away to other militaries.

“Since the October War in 1973, Washington has provided Israel with a level of support dwarfing the amounts provided to any other state. It has been the largest annual recipient of direct U.S. economic and military assistance since 1976 and the largest total recipient since World War ll. Total direct U.S. aid to Israel amounts to well over $140 billion in 2003 dollars. Israel receives over $3 billion in direct foreign assistance each year, which is roughly one-fifth of America's entire foreign aid budget. In per capita terms, the United States gives each Israeli a direct subsidy worth about $500 per year. This largesse is especially striking when one realizes that Israel is now a wealthy industrial state with a per capita income roughly equal to South Korea or Spain.”

- John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt
"The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy"​

How many diseases could we cure with that kind of money?

 

USA has the worst healthcare in the world and this is coming from someone who was born in Europe.

 

Can we have a civil debate on different health care models in different economic environments and weigh in the opinion of everyone?

 

That would be great. Can @glynis and @Michael Leigh explain to us how NHS works, and what they think of it?

 

It depends what you want to know @dpdx ? The NHS is a large organisation and it might be better for one to look for information on the Internet. In brief though please note the following:

All treatment under the NHS is free at point of delivery. All medications whilst in hospital are free. Walk-in clinics and visits to see the GP/doctor surgery, any blood tests or examinations the same. A lot of surgeries carry out minor medical procedures all this is free. Referral to a Hospital to see a specialist. In the case of seeing an ENT consultant/doctor will be free and any tests: Hearing Tests MRI scan etc. Hearing aids, white noise generators. Referrals to an Audiologist/Hearing Therapist and any treatment required if available: CBT, TRT, Counselling, Mindfullness, sound therapy devices will be free.

Michael

 

Americans would give their arm and leg for something like this.

 

The NHS has its problems like any large organisation and doesn't always run smoothly. I have always had good treatment. Believe it when I say some people are never satisfied and moan and groan about the NHS and don't know how lucky they are. Just yesterday I was talking to a neighbour that has started taking a new medication for a condition that he has, I forget the name. He told me 1 months supply of tablets costs £5000/$6,588 free of charge.

Michael

 

USA has for profit healthcare. You cant get sick here if you do you are done (bankruptcy). You should be very lucky to live in the UK and not Murica.

 

I know the situation in the USA and I'm sorry to hear some people can be affected this way. Very sad.
All the best
Michael

 

Yeah, its a pathetic country to be honest. I heard horror stories of people being denied care because they dont have insurance.

 

I have been told this too....