We Pay More But Are Now Healthier?
As times were changing, concern over rising costs and lack of a corresponding health increase troubled the American Public. We, in Egypt, can relate. Costs of medical care in Egypt are rising exponentially-- while health indicators and mortality rates seem constant. Most health improvements are because of governmental efforts aided by international organizations. Hepatitis C is rampant, chronic renal failure is a scourge, and smoking-related respiratory illnesses are at an all-time high. This strains the financial capacity of the Egyptian people, most of whom are uninsured, and consequently many are unable to make ends meet. The affluent Egyptians, however, are paying hefty sums to private medical institutes (physicians, laboratories, and hospitals) to receive care that can be described as less-than-optimum, to say the least. Estimating the exact expenditures is difficult but judging by the number of private group practices and hospitals opening up in wealthy neighborhoods, the medical profession in Egypt must be doing fine. Illustrative of the case of quality or the lack thereof, in the Egyptian medical care system is the fact that no Egyptian official ever seeks treatment in an Egyptian hospital!
As times were changing, concern over rising costs and lack of a corresponding health increase troubled the American Public. We, in Egypt, can relate. Costs of medical care in Egypt are rising exponentially-- while health indicators and mortality rates seem constant. Most health improvements are because of governmental efforts aided by international organizations. Hepatitis C is rampant, chronic renal failure is a scourge, and smoking-related respiratory illnesses are at an all-time high. This strains the financial capacity of the Egyptian people, most of whom are uninsured, and consequently many are unable to make ends meet. The affluent Egyptians, however, are paying hefty sums to private medical institutes (physicians, laboratories, and hospitals) to receive care that can be described as less-than-optimum, to say the least. Estimating the exact expenditures is difficult but judging by the number of private group practices and hospitals opening up in wealthy neighborhoods, the medical profession in Egypt must be doing fine. Illustrative of the case of quality or the lack thereof, in the Egyptian medical care system is the fact that no Egyptian official ever seeks treatment in an Egyptian hospital!
Market Tolerance and Rising Health care costs.
I found the concept of the “market tolerance” very enlightening. Starr argues that it is the tolerance of the market that allowed health care costs to skyrocket unchecked-- not just the facts the higher expectations or to advances in science. The argument for the fact that the practice of fee-for-service inherently set up the stage for providers accumulating riches on the expense of the society is self-evident to me. Third parties shielding patients and providers from the true cost of treatment has definitely contributed to the market tolerance.
This is not necessarily the case, however, around other corners of the globe where patients are less educated and providers are more authoritative. The issue of authority plays a very important role especially in countries where out-of-pocket expenditures are common, and government reimbursement is tainted with the hues of corruption.
I found the concept of the “market tolerance” very enlightening. Starr argues that it is the tolerance of the market that allowed health care costs to skyrocket unchecked-- not just the facts the higher expectations or to advances in science. The argument for the fact that the practice of fee-for-service inherently set up the stage for providers accumulating riches on the expense of the society is self-evident to me. Third parties shielding patients and providers from the true cost of treatment has definitely contributed to the market tolerance.
This is not necessarily the case, however, around other corners of the globe where patients are less educated and providers are more authoritative. The issue of authority plays a very important role especially in countries where out-of-pocket expenditures are common, and government reimbursement is tainted with the hues of corruption.
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