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US medical care is the most expensive and has the most errors

04 Nov 2005

Not only do Americans pay much more for medical treatment than anyone

else in the world, they also seem to bear the brunt of the most

medical errors. This is according to a survey covering the USA,

Australia, Canada, Germany, N Zealand, UK and USA. Almost 7,000

patients were consulted.

Americans are the most likely to have to pay (out-of-pocket) expenses

over $1,000. 34% of the American patients surveyed said they had

encountered either medication errors, wrong test results, late test

results or treatment errors.

People reporting at least one of these errors: Medication errors -

wrong test result - delay in getting test result -treatment or care

errors

USA - 34%

Canada - 30%

Australia - 27%

New Zealand - 25%

Germany - 23%

UK - 22%

In the UK people pay nothing for medical treatment or medical tests.

Prescriptions are heavily subsidised by the state. Contrast the UK

error rate with the USA's, the problem for Americans' is compounded

by their soaring medical treatment and medication costs.

Over 50% of the Americans in the survey said they either don't take

their medication or don't see a doctor because they can't afford the

soaring prices.

Americans are most dissatisfied with what happens to them when they

are discharged from hospital.

At Medical News Today we have received many emails from Americans on

this theme. The prevailing message is that medical care is expensive

and of poor quality.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist

Editor: Medical News Today

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=33003#