NHS among developed world's most efficient health systems, says study

[go west young man]

Source: The Guardian UK

The NHS is one of the most cost-effective health systems in the developed world, according to a study (pdf) published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

The "surprising" findings show the NHS saving more lives for each pound spent as a proportion of national wealth than any other country apart from Ireland over 25 years. Among the 17 countries considered, the United States healthcare system was among the least efficient and effective.

Researchers said that this contradicted assertions by the health secretary, Andrew Lansley, that the NHS needed competition and choice to become more efficient.

"The government proposals to change the NHS are largely based on the idea that the NHS is less efficient and effective than other countries, especially the US," said Professor Colin Pritchard, of Bournemouth University, who analysed a quarter of a century's data from 1980


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/aug/07/nhs-among-most-efficient-health-services

---

Proof that the conservative UK government is just as beholden to corporations as the U.S. govt is.

[PSPS]

1. "the idea that the NHS is less efficient and effective than other countries, especially the US"

"The government proposals to change the NHS are largely based on the idea that the NHS is less efficient and effective than other countries, especially the US," said Professor Colin Pritchard, of Bournemouth University, who analysed a quarter of a century's data from 1980

It's all a matter of semantics. In the RW view, the only 'efficiency' that matters is that of shoveling the taxpayer's money into the pockets of the privileged few. The US excels in that level of 'efficiency' by far.

[Igel]

6. I don't think so.

"Efficient" in terms of results per dollar isn't at issue. Nor is "effective" in terms of the entire population.

The claim is that if you have access to health care that you get the best results or have access to the widest range of treatment options without government interference or regulation.

In fact, such a system is going to be very inefficient.

To be effective in the Murdochian sense it would have to treat everybody. That would be horrendously expensive. So in the US some people get really good treatment; some don't.

My sister-in-law did. The amount of medical care she got in the last year of her life was amazing. She had bone and breast cancer. They knew it had returned. She died a few months ahead of schedule. Still, they spent a lot of money on making sure that she was able to live out that year. That's hideously inefficient. It's effective, for her and a small group of people. But not for most. She wouldn't hve gotten treatment in many countries with a more efficient system; or she would have had some treatments scheduled at a time that would make them posthumous.

I'm not sure she was one of the "privileged few" in any way other than the amount spent on her medical care. Then again, she had cancer and died of it, making hers a special kind of "privilege."

[harmonicon]

2. That's no surprise to me.

The NHS is incredible. I wouldn't even bother to compare it to the US, because the US doesn't have a first-world healthcare system, but the NHS is still, I think, better than those in France and the CZR.

Of course the Tories don't like it; it is good for poor people, and they hate the poor with unbridled passion.

[JAnthony]

3. Wow, FACTS in non-Murdoch newspapers in the UK!!! Like this. one...

"Among the 17 countries considered, the United States healthcare system was among the least efficient and effective."

Why don't we see this being stated on Fox News? Or even CNN?

[wilt the stilt]

4. This is not possibly true just this year

I made 13 out of network claims. BCBS put the wrong policy number on 7of the claims even though i only used one form for all 13 claims. I then faxed it 4 more times and they "lost" it every time. After finally faxing it a sixth time they paid only 5 of the claims. Then I had to fax it again. It took me 7 months to get paid.

Next came the $2,000 out of pocket. I had been adding up the claims. I caught them trying to pass a claim to me to pay. i went back and made them pay the claim. I call this out and out thievery
Finally, My daughter made another claim and they put my name as the patient. They them told me that they had the documentation. I had my Doctor send me the documentation and they put it in right. I faxed them the right documentation.

This is efficiency.

I call it thievery.

[Vinca]

5. . . . and that was on a good day.

[and-justice-for-all]

7. Universal or NHS is the best possible delivery of health care

How that is administered is another matter, however Allocating health care to the private sector just means death for a lot of people; health care is a RIGHT and not a fucking privilege.