by Patrick Appel
A reader writes:
As an American living in Singapore for over 20 years, I'd like to comment on Will Wilkinson's statement that the reason behind its health care efficiency and ability to successfully deliver quality health care to all at a reasonable cost is entirely due to competitive markets at play. Perhaps he should investigate how heavily involved the Singapore government is in the local health care sector - from owning hospital groups that compete with the private sector, directing retail prices for doctors, ensuring low cost drugs are available, mandating individual health accounts and restricting how they can be used, etc. While there are veneers of private sector activity and free markets at play, the Singapore government is well in control of everything that happens in this area. I for one would welcome this level of involvement by the US Government in the American health sector but suspect the Tea Partiers and their ilk would go completely insane at the thought.