The US is not the only case. Switzerland spends twice as much as France per capita on healthcare. The Swiss have a highly privatized healthcare system with mandatory insurance. And while Switzerland, unlike the US, does have good healthcare results, they are not better than in France.
Chinese Economics Thread
- Thread starter Norfolk
- Start date
Everything in Switzerland is expensive. The nominal GDP per capita of Switzerland is more than double that of France.
In terms of fraction of GDP, Swiss spending on healthcare is similar to other developed countries at 10%~13%, while the US is at nearly 19%.
That's why it is important for the government to regulate and negotiate prices with private health care providers and pharmaceutical companies in order to rein in the costs. As other member said, Switzerland's GDP percentage of health care is still much more reasonable than the US which is insanely high with almost 19%
I think china should do something with tobacco, it's long term economic issues.
China should try to make smokers to use e cigarette and reduced new smokers.
China should try to make smokers to use e cigarette and reduced new smokers.
E cigarette is as unhealthy as cigarette. China might want to impose more restrictions in smoking especially in public places and issue more fines and penalty. Hong Kong has a great success in discouraging smoking through making smoking a hassle.
If I am not wrong, tobacco companies are among if not the largest taxpayers in China. A lot of public activies is basically funded by tax from these companies. China government have a quite inefficient tax collection machine, especially from real estate so until their tax machine is developed well enough, these tobacco companies ironically will be seemed as positive.
Yeah the governments are addicted to the easy tax money on the addiction products. They must stop.
At the same time, the public also need to reduce the demand. Sudden cutoff of the supply, or even just large hikes on tax, will likely lead to more underground business and crimes otherwise.
In addition to raising awareness of the public on the harm by the addictive substances, there needs to be financial incentives. For example, the public healthcare should consider to stop covering illnesses that are result of addiction product abuse.
Yeah, but is it worth the drag on the economy when these smokers eventually get ill and require treatment like lung transplants/surgery/canter therapies, etc?
Falls on deaf ears. Read the comments.