Re: US healthcare system
One example: For a particular type of blood test, I got the results in an hour in the US, and in two-three weeks in UK. So if getting timely results is a measure (a necessary step in timely care) then the US provided care was two orders of magnitutde (100 times) better than the care in UK. I already talked about my mother's case that was hopelessly screwed by the carers here, constrained by the system they work in (which is constrained by the stress placed on it)
May I ask what you paid for the blood test in US?
Well If UK has such delays then there is something wrong with their healthcare system. We in mid-Europe get the result on the same day (in some hours) (and yet I had to pay nothing). And even in Pak you get the result on the same day!
Well such incidents like that with your mom happen (unfortunately), but such cases do happen in the States as well. I have had people complaining about docs and their under-qualification and yet they paid lots of money to get one or two operations done properly.
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Depends on how you define "level" doesnt it? Efficiency, competance, timeliness, quality? Definitely much better than the UK. Universality, no not as good.
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I'm talking about the treatment level, which includes efficiency, competance, quality and qualification of a doc. As I said above I had heard complains about US docs too. The more money you spend the better result you get....is actually not always true nor right. My father is best example and finally he had his health problem solved by a Pak military doc, with half as good equipment and with a doc's degree from a less respected UNIVERSITY.
And It worked.
But I still believe healthcare systems like in mid-Europe do benefit you financially a lot. You wont hesitate going to a doc at any time, since you will not feel that the docs are looting you. WHereas with private insurances docs tend to make more money, thus invite the patient every second day to their clinic although 1 check-up a month would be more than satisfying.