It’s Time to Guarantee Healthcare to All Americans as a Human Right

THE GUARDIAN: It is time to end the international embarrassment of the US being the only major country that does not guarantee healthcare

Let’s be clear. The current healthcare system in the United States is totally broken, dysfunctional and cruel. It is a system which spends twice as much per capita as any other major country, while 85 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured, one out of four Americans cannot afford the cost of the prescription drugs their doctors prescribe, and where over 60,000 die each year because they don’t get to a doctor on time.

It is a system in which our life expectancy is lower than almost all other major countries and is actually declining, a system in which working class and low-income Americans die at least ten years younger than wealthier Americans.

It is a system in which some 500,000 people go bankrupt because of medically related debt.

It is a system in which large parts of our country are medically underserved, where rural hospitals are being shut down, and where people, even with decent insurance, have to travel hours in order to find a doctor.

It is a system in which, in the midst of a major mental health crisis, Americans are unable to find the affordable mental health treatment they need.

It is a system where, despite our huge expenditures, we don’t have enough doctors, nurses, dentists, mental health professionals, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals – and where we spend less than half as much of our healthcare dollars on primary care as do most other countries. » | Bernie Sanders | Thursday, May 18, 2023

We have had an excellent 'healthcare for all' system here in the shape of the National health Service. Unfortunately, the Tories are doing all they can to deconstruct it, nay destroy it. They want to follow the failed American model and make healthcare the privilege of the élite in society. The Tories don't want the 'wiff-waff' being able to get healthcare. Good heavens, no! To modern-day, far-right Tories, that sounds far too merciful. – © Mark Alexander