Originally Posted By: Derid
Originally Posted By: sinij
Originally Posted By: Derid

Sinij, those socialist countries you mention function in that way because they basically act as a corporation that buys health care from USA private corporations.


R&D is done everywhere, sure US does more of it in absolute numbers, but this is because US economy is larger.


you are ignoring that a foreign country that buys as a bloc essentially as a single buyer and is able to get considerable discounts as they are a secondary market.


I am well aware that treatments and medicine are purchased at a discount by countries with social medicine. How is "single buyer" wholesale purchasing power is not an advantage of socialized medicine? Your earlier point is that socialized medicine is ineffective, now you are contradicting yourself by pointing otherwise.

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You are also ignoring the extreme cases of advanced medicine where the costs of a few procedures/treatments , the retail value is exceedingly high and skew the overall results.


Are you suggesting that innovative treatments and drugs is the main reason why costs are so high? Do you have any data supporting this?

I was under impression that one of the costs increase sources came from individual doctors doing unnecessary expensive treatments (spine fusion comes to mind) and health insurances not having enough tools to question them.

Last edited by sinij; 11/23/11 10:18 AM.
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