Lessons for Health Care Policy in the United States: Comparing Health Care Systems

Abstract

This paper compares health care systems. It looks beyond normal academic, political, or journalistic rhetoric, by exactly sticking to facts, i.e. empirical data (in particular data provided by the WHO) and comprehensive case study analyses. The paper finds that a number of myths and common believes in health care policy are not supported by emprical evidence. Global health care policy, as well as health care policy in United States, needs to look at statistical data and profound overall assessment studies to change global health care policies. The paper reveals that there is ample room for saving costs, i.e. increase efficiency, of public health care systems in order to save lives. Good health care and more health care can be generated by 'administrative' and 'incentive' reforms (usually involving systemic and structural reforms) of health care systems. Many millions of lives can be saved if we stick to statistical empricial data and case studies, and distance ourselves from harmful ideological blindness in health care politics.