Omnium-gatherum

How (and How Not) to Endorse Universal Health Care

2023/3/13

Do:

Research and promote any and all means by which the affordability of subsidized health care may be improved without qualitative or logistical compromises.

If they don't already, pressure your government to vigorously negotiate with medical suppliers -- especially pharmaceutical firms -- to minimize costs of appurtenances and medicines.
Always demand interdiction of private insurers.
Be receptive to novel, mixed schemes for funding that don't involve private insurers.

Commend decentralization of health care akin to Canada's provincial and territorial systems, or Finland's municipal systems.
Oppose and work to repeal tort reform that at all cancels or curtails any substantial litigation concerning medical malpractice.
Urge higher standards of hygiene in hospitals and other medical facilities.
Whether employed or not at public or publically-funded institutions, uphold the right of individual physicians to practice privately.
Discourage excessive applications of pharmaceuticals.
Monitor and denounce medical associations (esp. physicians' unions and pharmaceutical associations) that oppose any of these measures.

Don't:

Stop referring to universal health care as "free" or "socialized."
Don't imagine or pretend that your society and medical institutions aren't corrupted by pernicious Big Pharma simply because health care in your country isn't privatized.
Don't accept legislation that benefits private insurers, yet is disingenuously touted as anything tantamount to subsidized health care, such as the United States' Affordable Care Act.
Do not contextualize promotion of universal health care as an argument for socialism.

Specifically, don't taint espousal of universal health care by positive associations with Marxism/Communism or National Socialism. Real people shouldn't be forced to contend with the historical anchors that these castastrophically failed ideologies represent.

Neither recommend universal health care by adducing horrible, backward countries (Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela) in which it exists, especially when so many superior, real countries (Denmark, Japan, Oman, South Korea, Finland) have done so with far greater success.