Unfortunately, the googling I did indicated that all of Europe trails the U.S. in cancer survival.

The problem with Judd Gregg and his ilk is that they are very well coached and well rehearsed and have no scruples.

Blessings,

from #29: I would argue the US survival rate is in spite of, not because of our current medical payments system (aka, wellness plus insurance or wealth). The US figures may well leave out those not diagnosed or who are unable to receive treatment. Like the long term unemployed, they don’t count.

This gets into comparative methodologies, but this a very good and original guess at what explains the profound differences.

Here, he is cherry-picking seemingly useful statistics (there are lies, damn lies and statistics) that support his political agenda. He is not arguing in good faith about rationally improving the delivery of and payment for health care in America.

The UK numbers are a function of government resources and priorities, not a function of the health services professionals’ standard of care. I’d also like to see some differential analysis regarding age and other reasons that might explain why the UK numbers are so much higher. But that kind of nuance, which is necessary to make the comparison meaningful, is irrelevant to Gregg.

I would argue the US survival rate is in spite of, not because of our current medical payments system (aka, wellness plus insurance or wealth). The US figures may well leave out those not diagnosed or who are unable to receive treatment. Like the long term unemployed, they don’t count.

The right to health care is guaranteed in the Venezuelan Constitution, which was written and ratified by the people in 1999. Through implementing a state-funded social program called Barrio Adentro, or inside the barrio, free comprehensive health care is available to all Venezuelans. Beginning in June 2003 through a trade pact with Cuba, Venezuela began to bring Cuban doctors, medical technology, and medications into rural and urban communities free of charge in exchange for low-cost oil. The 1.5 million dollar per year program expanded to provide a broad network of small neighborhood clinics, larger regional clinics, and hospitals which aim to serve the entire Venezuelan population. (1) Chavez has referred to this new health care system as the “democratization of health care” stating that “health care has become a fundamental social right and the state will assume the principal role in the construction of a participatory system for national public health.” (2) In Venezuela, not only is health care a right; it is recognized as an essential for true participatory democracy.

(…)

During my time in Venezuela, I developed a cough that went on for three weeks and progressively worsened. Finally, after I had become incredibly congested and developed a fever, I decided to attend a Barrio Adentro clinic. The closest one available was a Barrio Adentro II Centro de Diagonostico Integral (CDI) and I headed in without my medical records or calling to make an appointment. Immediately, I was ushered into a small room where Carmen, a friendly Cuban doctor, began questioning me about my symptoms. She listened to my lungs and walked me over to another examination room where, again without waiting, I had x-rays taken. Afterwards, the technician walked me to a chair and apologized profusely that I had to wait for the x-rays to be developed, promising that it would take no more than five minutes. Sure enough, five minutes later he returned with both x-rays developed. Carmen studied the x-rays and informed me that I had pneumonia, showing me the telltale shadows. She sent me away with my x-rays, three medications to treat my pneumonia, congestion, and fever, and made me promise to come back if my conditioned failed to improve or worsened within three days.
I walked out of the clinic with a diagnosis and treatment within twenty-five minutes of entering, without paying a dime. There was no wait, no paperwork, and no questions about my ability to pay, my nationality, or whether, as a foreigner, I was entitled to free comprehensive health care. There was no monetary value connected with my physical well-being; the care I received was not contingent upon my ability to pay. I was treated with dignity, respect, and compassion, my illness was cured and I was able to continue with my journey in Venezuela.

This past year, a family friend was not so lucky. At the age of 56, she was going back to school and was uninsured. She came down with what she thought was a severe case of the flu, and as her condition worsened she decided not to see a doctor because of the cost. She died at home in bed, losing her life to a system that did not respect her basic human right to survive. Her death is not an isolated incident.