by Luke Bawden

Created on: August 19, 2009

Congress should be focused on what system of combination of systems best deliver happy, healthy and productive members of society. Healthcare has radically shifted from an institution passionate about helping to an ineffective monster costing us more and achieving less. To say it needs an overhaul is one of this century's greatest understatements.

Free or subsidised healthcare is there for people who need it and can be very fairly means tested. Compulsory health insurance with an income threshold should drive the cost down and the burden gets more evenly shared. Insurance companies with very little consequence around there outrageous pricing structure need some government regulation to inspire a fairer deal. Sadly in these situations it is often seen as necessary to cut costs, when the main focus is getting people healthy and investing in researched solutions.

Another very important consideration is, are our medical professionals actually connecting with patients. A doctor's surgery has become a business model meaning the more patients you can push through the better off the doctor is but not necessarily the patient. Consumers are as much to blame as most after the one pill fix. The underlying societal reluctance to look for the cause but rather a cost effective and easy patch up makes for snow balling health blow outs.

Education is most certainly the first cab off the rank as this vehicle producer understands it. The problems associated to health care are simply stop spending more when people are sick and educate them on how best to stay well. If health issues are the result of a half arsed attitude then you could remove the safety net till understanding and attitude are modified. Some people have issues that require lots of tender loving care and if the system wasn't clogged for other reasons we wouldn't see the great wall style waiting lists.

A complete overhaul seems to be in the works which is a great way to grow insight. Looking round the world there are many systems with industry leading innovations ripe for the picking. Wouldn't it be fantastic to be talking about the awesome benefits good health brings with health care professional that have time to enjoy a coffee. Look at it this way; you go to the doctor realising you have forgotten your wallet - sadly you die. Is the health of citizens about status and financial means or is it about designing a system that can catch everybody if they fall?

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