Question

The United States spends far more than other countries on healthcare. Interestingly, when queried in opinion polls, the American public believes that we should actually spend more, not less, on healthcare. How would one evaluate whether this spending is worthwhile? What reasons might there be for being concerned about the validity of such assessments?

Answer 1

The worthwhileness of the spending on healthcare is evaluated by the total number of diseases that are totally eradicated, diseases that has immediate cure, the insurance systems that gives immediate remedy and the research and development happening in the Medical Field. These are some factors based on which the worthiness of the project is evaluated. For instance, when there are diseases like polio that are compeltely eradicated, then it is an indicator that the Research and development wing of the healthcare system is functioning effectively.

Likewise now they have started a campaign to eradicate Malaria which is again an advancement in healthcare. Similarly when there is a sudden outbreak of Flu, it amount of control that the government exercises, will give help individuals to evaluate whether the spending on healthcare is worthtwhile.

The reasons underlying for concern about the validity of such assessments are as follows;

1. When there is less R&D being involved in a particular area, due to which there are human life losses recorded.
2. When there is an epidemic that goes uncontrolled.
3. Failed or uneffective medicare practices.