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by iainmerrick 3509 days ago
2 is a good point, but I don't think 1 is correct.

I've heard that Cuba has the best doctors, and they often play a crucial role in emergency aid to other countries.

For quality of health care overall, the US is just a solid middle ranker when it comes to life expectancy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expe... That's only one metric, of course, but it seems like an important one.

It seems like the US pays about 3x more (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_total_hea...) for moderately worse outcomes.
1 comments
tropo 3508 days ago
Cuba has people in a different climate, with a different culture, and different inherent susceptibility to disease.

If we were to supply Cuba with bacon double cheeseburgers and unlimited soda refills, that life expectancy would not be so hot. Also, give them all desk jobs.

Healthcare is better in the USA. We just like to do bad things to ourselves.

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iainmerrick 3508 days ago
Canada, then. They have a very similar culture, and I don't think anyone would call their climate substantially more hospitable. They spend half as much on healthcare and live three years longer. Their approach (publicly funded, free at the point of use) would seem to be much more effective than the US approach.

I mentioned Cuba because I've heard many anecdotes about how skilled and well-trained their doctors are -- they don't have the money and resources for lots of modern drugs and equipment, so they invest in their workforce instead. I'm not saying Cuba is in great shape overall, just that I have heard they have excellent doctors. (I don't have data to back that up, though)

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