Read Original Research – Mirror, Mirror 2017: International Comparison Reflects Flaws and Opportunities for Better U.S. Health Care – The Commonwealth Fund

Read the original research, not coloured by the media. According to a new Commonwealth Fund report, in the United States—more than in 11 other wealthy countries—the health care you receive varies with your level of income.

Source: Mirror, Mirror 2017: International Comparison Reflects Flaws and Opportunities for Better U.S. Health Care

Overall, the UK comes out top overall and in terms of care and equity. But in terms of outcomes, the UK is second bottom of the list, with only the US being worse. But surely, healthcare is more about outcomes than the other variables – in other words, outcomes is not giving a high enough weight. Other international healthcare comparisons achieve different results.

Here’s a copy of the overview results tabled cited in the research report:

Exhibit 2. Health Care System Performance Rankings
header AUS CAN FRA GER NETH NZ NOR SWE SWIZ UK US
OVERALL RANKING 2 9 10 8 3 4 4 6 6 1 11
Care Process+ 2 6 9 8 4 3 10 11 7 1 5
Access+ 4 10 9 2 1 7 5 6 8 3 11
Administrative Efficiency+ 1 6 11 6 9 2 4 5 8 3 10
Equity+ 7 9 10 6 2 8 5 3 4 1 11
Health Care Outcomes+ 1 9 5 8 6 7 3 2 4 10 11

Cancer rates have reached a record high | Daily Mail Online

English: Example of a dynamic treatment regime...

English: Example of a dynamic treatment regime to treat cancer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In a breaking story, the Daily Mail reports that almost 300,000 cancer diagnoses were made in the UK in 2015, which is a rise of 22% from 2005, according to the Office for National Statistics. The Mail suggests that an ageing population is thought to be to blame.

Cancer rates have reached a record high   | Daily Mail Online

BUT surely lifestyle, including diet and exercise play a part too, as evidenced by rising obesity rates? Also UK cancer care is seriously behind other advanced countries like Germany and France – why?

Returning to the UK election, nobody seems interested in improving the effectiveness of public healthcare spending, just debating the merits and demerits of the NHS.

Surely, it’s time for a radical review of the effectiveness of UK public healthcare spending?

Thoughts?