(Below is the Youtube transcript and video for the US having a backwards health system.)
For those in the US, we have the most expensive healthcare system in the world, but the worst health outcomes compared to similar nations.
The Commonwealth Fund compared the performance of America’s health system to similar high-income countries and in a recent report, the USA ranks LAST (LAST!!!) among 11 nations in the following categories: Access; Efficiency; Equity; and Health Outcomes.
(On top of this, according to a 2023 analysis, life expectancy in the US has fallen below 56 countries on 6 continents, though it recently started to creep up again.)
This should seem backwards to people…most expensive healthcare system and worst health outcomes…WHATTTT? But it’s not surprising. It’s not surprising because out of 3 words that begin with P: Prevention, Patients, and Profit. And out of those words, we put PROFIT first, we put patients second and we don’t do much about prevention at all. Our research agendas are biased towards Pharma and Profit and then when people can’t afford their healthcare bills, they are forced to create a GoFundMe Page and it is just Sad. It’s SAD.
Now there are a lot of P words in this story, and I’m about to use two more. ;)
Power to the People!! Man, I hope this makes people angry. Angry enough to use their power to turn it around. I do believe it’s Possible.
Also watch my video (transcript included) on the difference between health span and life span and what matters more.