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It is a free market, about 30% of all hospitals and doctor offices in the US are a for profit private corporation, thus they can be acquired as any other busine
by multicast 3y ago
It is a free market, about 30% of all hospitals and doctor offices in the US are a for profit private corporation, thus they can be acquired as any other business by anyone. Like with pharma, most people have the very big misconception that just because its about health, that hospitals are excluded from free market and capitalistic principles. When someone offers hospital services or starts developing a new drug, he can charge whatever price he wants, and he will do it as long as profits are maximized and don't start to plunge due to too large price hikes (+ conflicts with insurance companies etc.). Hospitals in countries like Switzerland are known for the best medical treatment because they are almost 100% for profit - private / investor owned. Running a hospital is a business as any other + 95% of the US population has a healthcare insurance anyway. At topics like healthcare, most people are simply too much Hollywood educated and debate with irrelevant individual experiences.
- verteu 3y agoThe Swiss system isn't quite lassiez-faire capitalist: > "The Swiss government... does keep down overall spending by regulating drug prices and fees for lab tests and medical devices > Swiss insurance companies [must] offer the mandatory basic plan on a not-for-profit basis, although they are permitted to earn a profit on supplemental plans. It does seem like a promising approach that's (largely) market-driven. [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/health/policy/01swiss.html https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/health/policy/01swiss.htm...