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US system will not mimic NHS: Obama
15.08.09
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President Barack Obama has made an impassioned defence of health care reform but told Americans he would not use Britain's "socialised" system as a model.
In the latest of a series of public meetings to promote his proposals, the president hit out against the "scare tactics" employed by political opponents but saved most of his anger for health insurers and the tactics they use to avoid paying out.
The comments come amid an increasingly bitter fight over Mr Obama's plans to extend coverage to 46 million uninsured Americans.
But rather than implement a big government solution and cut them out of the loop completely, he said he wanted to build on the existing system, making it fairer for policy holders.
Speaking in Montana to a largely well-mannered audience, the president implied that some of the intemperate language had been overblown by the media. "TV loves a ruckus," he said.
But acknowledging that the debate was an emotional one, he drew on personal experience to highlight the need for change in the health insurance sector.
He said: "I will never forget my own mother as she fought cancer in her final months, having to worry about whether her insurance company would refuse to pay for her treatment. The insurance company was arguing that she should have known she had cancer when she took a new job, even though it hadn't been diagnosed yet."
In a bid to allay the fears of opponents of reform, Mr Obama said that a wholesale move to a Government-run system was not on the table. Asked by a member of the audience if the US could learn from Canada of Britain - both of which have state run system - Mr Obama acknowledged that in other industrialised countries, health care was cheaper, also implying that it was more efficient. But he said he was not prepared to go for what he described as a "socialised" system.
"I'm not in favour of the Canadian system, I'm not in favour of a British system, I'm not in favour of a French system. That is not what we are working on. Let's find a uniquely American solution," he said.
Right wing commentators in the US have demonised the NHS in recent weeks in a bid to discredit reforms which would see an expanded role for government, making false claims that have since been attacked by the UK government. Mr Obama hit out at the "scare tactics" used by those on the right, suggesting that they had been influenced by an insurance industry that has much to lose if reform goes through.
Reader views (1)
Sooner or later, and like the financial sector, the private health care insurance sector will unravel and start crumbling, and then they will come grovelling and ask for big government to the rescue (socialism for the fat cats) only then, I hope they will receive a dose of their own medicine and get fully nationalised...
Are not Doctors supposed to uphold a Hippocratic oath that they will not let down any patient coming under their care, clearly, the insurers constitute unwanted static that have perverted that beautiful and noble profession.
Very sad to have to bow down to such greed, lack of concern for human suffering, and darkness of spirit.
America is not yet ready to face its own demons, this is why it has been busying itself outside its core, in that process, it might lose its soul, and its link with The God of Mercy... May The God have pity on the few righteous among them...
- Nabil H, London, UK
