Quote:
Originally Posted by Shek
How many CT scan machines per capita do you think there are in Cuba compared to the US? I don't have the answer, but I strongly suspect that the US is much further ahead in the game.
What about the widespread availability of revolutionary drugs? I guarantee that you're much better off in the US than in Cuba.
So, while you have a valid point in that the figures most likely reflect simple exchange rates as opposed to purchasing power parity, the fact that the US has the income and therefore the access to the latest and greatest technologies in medicine will account for most of the difference. As they say, you get what you pay for.
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Shek,
I don't think a greater per capita availability of machines necessarily translates to greater medical access. I agree that there is probably a cut off
below which access drastically drops but I'd say the statistic in this case atleast wouldn't get us anything. Here is an example: An expensive hospital in the US is likely to have an MRI machine, an open MRI and maybe an fMRI machine. The later two have specialized applications which are not routinely used. So while Cuba may have MRI machines in two remote places improving access they still won't change the no of machines per capita statistic. I'm not saying they do. I'm just pointing out why this statistic is in my opinion flawed.
Too, doctors in the US routinely recommend a battery of tests which are not recommended elsewhere.(I base this on conversations with cousins who are doctors in US, India and the UK. So I can't really back this up with hard evidence. I'll go look for papers on this. Meanwhile I'd be interested to see if any other foreigners working/living in the US have a similar experience) Why? Some of it comes down to fear of malpractice suits. The cost of medical care in the US is exorbitant. It doesn't necessarily reflect the quality of the care.
I don't really know where this argument started, but comparing availability of revolutionary new drugs in the US to anywhere else in the world is unfair. The US has a larger pharmaceutical industry than anywhere else. Access to basic medicine is way more important in the overall scheme of things. How much(relatively) do pills to cure stomache cost? Diarrhea? How about contraceptives? That kind of thing in my opinion is way more important.