2017, Number 2-3
MEDICC Review 2017; 19 (2-3)
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…
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Language: English
References: 2
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In this double issue, MEDICC Review celebrates a cornucopia of achievements, but in an atmosphere of uncertainty about the future of US health care and about US–Cuba relations.On the celebration front…Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Ethiopia) became WHO’s first African Director-General on July 3. In his address to WHO staff, Dr Tedros (as he prefers) emphasized that “universal health coverage…is a human rights issue. And the responsibility of national governments. It’s not only a technical matter but even more so a political one. Countries should compare their results to their peers and learn from each other.” This must sit painfully with many Americans, who are protesting in record numbers attempts by some in Congress to dismantle their health coverage and leave millions without care altogether. In this context, it is ironic that the Commonwealth Fund ranks the USA last among 11 wealthy countries in health system performance, and health system efficiency ranks well below Cuba and some other poorer countries.
REFERENCES
Schneider EC, Sarnak DO, Squires D, Shah A, Doty MM. Mirror, Mirror 2017: International Comparison Refl ects Flaws and Opportunities for Better U.S. Health Care [Internet]. New York: Commonwealth Fund; 2017 Jul [cited 2017 Jul 15]. 30 p. Available from: http://www.commonwealthfund.org/inter actives/2017/july/mirror-mirror/