Health Care Highways ꟷ A Cartoon
- T Michael White MD FACP
- Dec 20, 2024
- 1 min read
By Ibrahim I Ghobrial MD FACP MRCP
“There is more to life than increasing its speed.” Mahatma Gandhi
“It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment.” Marcus Tullius Cicero
Friday, December 20, 2024
Dear Mr. President, Honorable Members of Congress and Distinguished Staff and Fine
Citizens,
Reflecting on health care highways…
Thank you for considering.
Ibrahim I Ghobrial MD FACP MRCP
Pittsburgh
Copy to: We The People at fixingushealthcare.com
Great cartoon! Missing are those too sick or too poor to even be on the highway. I find it interesting to listen to those who claim single payer models suffer from long wait times and decreased choice. My experience working with Medicaid and uninsured patients is that their waiting time for any significant procedure or treatment is distressingly prolonged. The question facing all of us is whether we can ethically embrace widely divergent wait times for say hip replacement surgery based solely on one's economic status? Thanks again!
Dr. Ghobrial's artwork says so much. The comment that follows enhances the message. I am beginning to appreciate:
our fine country requires a health care system that provides 'basic' health care to all;
The boundaries of 'basic' requires definition;
The system is likely to be slow and clunky (picture an ancient Yugo) --- but, at the same time, decent, kind and effective; and
For those with means, there will be the option (picture a new Bentley) for expensive, boutique care --- as that is the American Way.
Stay tuned...
TMWMD
I worked under both single payer and free-market systems; I learned not to say which system is better. I just say they are different. A single payer system is like a highway where all cars drive at 50 mph, while the free-market system is like a highway with no posted speed limit (some are at 100 or more miles per hour, some are at 20-30 mph, and sadly, some are walking on the side.
I shared this question with ~ 100 of my friends. Slightly more than 50% favor a single payer. But very obvious that those who worked under such a system (in the UK / Canda) rush to say not so fast. Long waiting times and limited choices…