There is lots of factors but R&D is not one of them. Plenty of German/English/French medical device and pharmaceutical companies out there at forefront.
You'll never get costs under control with multi layer system we have with billers, insurance companies, lawyers and skimming off the care.
You'll never get costs under control with providers banking millions and CEOs hundreds of millions a year. All the other viable systems cap such things. Granted a orthopedic in uk is not poor but he.ll make $200,000 instead of $2,000,000 like here.
Ortho docs make 2mill here? lol?
This healthcare problem is very complex. Of course, everything is marked up, but the costs TO the hospital from suppliers is crazy. Simple instruments and supplies are out of control cost-wise, much more for equipment. There's also the insurance end, and gov't reimbursement that is not rising with the care that hospitals provide.
