Health care is a hot topic for debate in many countries. What do you think is the best system?

Friday 21st August, 07:28 AM JST

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blvtzpk at 12:19 AM JST - 22nd August

How did our grandparents live so long,because they followed the clean decent ways of their grandparents.

@Raja: You're suggesting that previous generations lived longer than current ones, something which is patently false. How do explain the incrementally increasing life expectancy over the generations? Using facts and your logic, it would seem that NOT living like our grandparents did (or having access to better diet, health services, medical technology and therapies) and being naughty, immoral people has had its benefits! Oh, as for affordable health care for all, I'm behind it 100%. A healthy society is...well...a healthy society.
seesaw at 12:33 AM JST - 22nd August

Free medical system is the best! I'm lucky to have been born in one such countries. Japan medical system is simply too expensive though I could afford it.
GW at 12:55 AM JST - 22nd August

seesaw, due pls give us an example of a country that provides "free" health care, I have never heard of such a thing. Hint, just because you dont hand over $$$ when using a health care system AINT the same as free!
ChrisBiggins at 01:39 AM JST - 22nd August

The NHS, though with minor faults , that hopefully Dave Cameron will rectify is marvellous. I went with terrible tummy wummy pains, god, i thought my time had come to pass on. A sweet assistant got me into a room within 5v minutes. I was examined, had multiple tests by a specialist and was sorted out and my mind set at rest within 4 hours. Also i pay much more tax and NI than the average BRit, much of which goes to the NHS and i don'T begrudge them a penny.
Disillusioned at 04:36 PM JST - 22nd August
If you are in good health it is cheaper to use a credit card in emergency situations than to pay a large monthly sum forever regardless of the health insurance system or country you are in.
- I recently watched that Micheal More documentary about the American health care system. And, people complain about the Japanese system? Bwaaaaaa!
onewrldoneppl at 06:17 PM JST - 22nd August

nisegaijin at 02:08 PM JST - 21st August

Basic healthcare should be a right in any civilized society. If people want to pay extra for private treatment, let them do that.

Why is this a right? Please explain, because maybe owning a Ferrari should be a right too and government should subsidize me one.

i hope many people you love suffer painfully/terribly, and then die because they don't/can't have access to healthcare. or a ferrari. i hope you die with them.
Farmboy at 08:10 PM JST - 22nd August

I have no idea. I lived in the US for a long time and had just one brief period in which I was insured, though I always had work. I was not able to buy insurance through my employer because it wasn't offered, and to buy it elsewhere was unbelievably expensive. When I got sick, I didn't go to the doctor unless I thought I might die because I didn't make enough to pay for it. Last I checked, if you go to Prompt Care with an infection or the flu, it costs a hundred dollars plus to see the doctor, and about the same for the medicine. I haven't checked for a while, so it's probably gone up. I don't recommend this system. I hope there will be a better one.
movieguy at 02:00 AM JST - 23rd August

I don't know what all this B.S. talk is about having to wait to be treated. I've been in Tokyo 15 years and I have NEVER waited for more than 15 minutes to be treated by a doctor when I've just walked in. The hospitals and clinics near my place also take reservations and as soon as I get there to fill out the paper work about why I'm there I immediately get to see the doctor.

I also had a bad ankle problem that no one could seem to diagnose. I finally found a doctor who was considered one of the best for sports injuries in Japan on a referral from my local clinic doctor and he said if I wanted to be without the nagging discomfort that I would need surgery but that it wasn't necessary (read: ELECTIVE). I said I wanted the ELECTIVE surgery and I made an appointment for 10 days later. He said he had an opening a week later, but I had to make arrangements with work. My ankle is as good as new. My only complaint about the surgery is that they made me stay in the hospital for 6 days after the surgery.

Granted Japan has issues in the country side, but that's a doctor shortage as much as it is a bed shortage, but all of this fear people are putting into others has just got to stop.
Farmboy at 07:28 AM JST - 23rd August

movieguy,

My wife waited four hours the other day. That isn't BS, though we aren't in in the Tokyo area.

The system is Japan is adequate, I think, but the quality is spotty. Your doctor might be the best in the world or just some kid with no experience who reads the standard procedure but doesn't get the big picture. Still, 85 percent of the time, it's good enough.
kenbrady at 12:44 PM JST - 23rd August

Loki520, how utterly conservative of you to throw "tort reform" at us as if that's truly the reason that things are screwed up.

If [frivolous] lawsuits are such a major issue in the cost of health care, then why are hospital groups, insurance companies (and pharma, since you mentioned it) in the US showing such significant profits? You'd think such unregulated that would pretty much put them all out of business.

Also, I find it telling that you want to keep the government out of the health care business where it might benefit individuals but are happy to have it intervene where it might benefit corporations.
kenbrady at 12:47 PM JST - 23rd August

Sorry: "such unregulated frivolity as that would pretty much..."
432cestus80 at 01:27 PM JST - 23rd August

There is no perfect health care program, but it can be corrected depending on the economic trend. Presently, Japan's Health Insurance is too expensive of its premium. Foreign workers cannot afford premiums of health insurances, whereby foreign workers or nikkeijin just simply ignore with a mindset... "que sera, sera" "whatever will be, will be". But what is ironic is the Japan's political leaders who are just naive on this kind of issue. As well as the poor implementation of Japan's Labor Laws that makes it more complicated in the implementation of health insurance laws. However, I have known that Japanese are well disciplined and business geniuses, they can tackle every issue with ease. Other countries cannot because of strong beliefs of democratic life there is always debates on issues.
thedeath at 05:53 PM JST - 27th August

Health care is a hot topic for debate in many countries.

are you an american? watch "Sicko"
buddha4brains at 06:12 PM JST - 27th August

The Washington Post had an interesting myth busting story about healthcare outside the US. That is, if you dare to read it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/21/AR2009082101778.html
sinjuku at 06:15 PM JST - 27th August

Well, let me see, illegal immigrants have milked the US out of $1.2 billion in Texas, 1.4 billion in California, and some have the US total cost at 10.7 billion for totally free medical care. Throw in the the advanced technology and world class training ? Seems like a no brainer... THE USA !