There are a large number of new Swine flu cases in Britain every week. With the NHS, Britain has established a system where swine flu patients can provide information over the Internet or telephone, then receive a prescription for Tamiflu to treat the symtoms, eliminating the need for thousands to visit their doctor.
This isn't possible in the US. If the Swine flu takes off this winter, we will see millions of doctor visits (or emergancy room visits), swamping the health care system.
I think I had the Swine flu earlier this year, I thought I had a cold for a few days, so I didn't get in to the doctor in time for Tamiflu (although I went in later for pneumonia). I got to wear a mask over my face that almost kept me from breathing. Its a good thing that the Swine flu isn't that bad.
But what if we see a nasty bug that is contagious, and there exists a treatment. Something like TB. A free market health care system, where those without insurance go without treatment, would allow the uninsured to become carriers for the disease.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment