Dr. Jonathan Kenigson, FRSA*
Despite vociferous protestations to the contrary, the byzantine, frustrating, and ludicrously expensive U.S. healthcare system is at once less effective and more inefficient than the United Kingdom’s primary care system (Starfield et al., 2005; Kozuń-Cieślak & Zdražil, 2021). The astronomical healthcare expenditures shouldered by the American taxpayer for comparatively poor services are a direct result of the market’s inefficiency in the assurance of equitable healthcare delivery (Friesen, 2016; Onuigbo & Agbasi, 2014; Young et. al., 2021). The poor suffer more than anyone else under this reprehensible and inequitable system (Starfield et al., 2005). Unfortunately, conservatives are predominantly responsible for this gaping malfunction in the USA.
Our risible and preventable lack of universal medical coverage in the USA places healthcare outcomes (all-cause mortality, infant mortality, and life expectancy included) on a par with countries with less than 1/2 the per-capita income (Bachmann et al., 2021). The U.S. system’s inordinate complexity, inefficiency, and expense hamstrung COVID-19 vaccination efforts for the country at large and especially for minorities (Ogueji et al., 2022). A national healthcare system in the USA would equalize healthcare outcomes among different racial and socioeconomic groups; ensure prompt treatment of chronic conditions; provide sufficient funding for community clinics and rural hospitals of high quality; and permit physicians to address disparities in health outcomes irrespective of patients’ socio-economic statuses (Cheng et. al., 2019; Delgado, 2016; Hamed et. al., 2022; Howard et al., 2011; Minari & Morrison, 2018; Murata & Kondo, 2020). Despite specious and calumnious protestations to the contrary, “Medicare for All” (or some reasonable variant thereof) would be far more efficient and pleasant to navigate than the current patchwork of PPO’s, HMO’s, exorbitant individual markets, and fraudulent Medicare add-on plans (see Storto & Goncharuk, 2017).
I’m more than confident that you – my readers in elected offices – possess at least a scintilla of dignity, honor, charity, and intelligence. It is time to stop hiding behind specious, puerile claims of mile-long queues for care in Canada and the UK. Most people of reasonable intelligence see these claims – though to some degree founded – as ruses to continue in the footsteps of apathy and neglect for which you are so well known. Unfortunately, you likely treasure money and prestige above the welfare of your countrymen – sometimes, pathetically, in the name of God. No man can serve God and mammon, though you attempt the task with great ardor and at great public expense. If the cries of those disenfranchised by your apathy are – as typical – unanswered, then go forth to serve your master while decent and civil people strive to serve their Master.
Sincerely,
J. Kenigson
Further Reading.
Bachmann, M., Taha-Mehlitz, S., Ochs, V., Enodien, B., Eriksson, U., & Taha, A. (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9121633
Cheng, Y., Goodin, A., Pahor, M., Manini, T., & Brown, J. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.16260
Delgado, I. (2016).
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311×00037415
Friesen, P. (2016).
https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2016-103478
Hamed, S., Bradby, H., Ahlberg, B., & Thapar‐Björkert, S. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13122-y
Howard, V., Kleindorfer, D., Judd, S., McClure, L., Safford, M., Rhodes, J., … & Howard, G. (2011).
https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.22385
Kozuń-Cieślak, G. and Zdražil, P. (2021).
https://doi.org/10.35808/ersj/2725
Minari, J. and Morrison, M. (2018).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40246-018-0151-9
Murata, C. and Kondo, K. (2020).
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1831-7_18
Ogueji, I., Ceccaldi, B., Okoloba, M., Maloba, M., Adejumo, A., & Ogunsola, O. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-022-09591-5
Onuigbo, M. and Agbasi, N. (2014).
https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcp.12446
Starfield, B., Shi, L., & Macinko, J. (2005). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0009.2005.00409.x
Starfield, B., Shi, L., Grover, A., & Macinko, J. (2005). https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.w5.97
Storto, C. and Goncharuk, A. (2017).
https://doi.org/10.14254/2071-789x.2017/10-3/8
Young, Y., Alharthy, A., & Hosler, A. (2021).