US GDP and Health Care expenditures 1960 to 2000

[ElFenix]

interesting pdf i found
discussion?

 

[XZeroII]

VERY interesting. I was not aware of much of that.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Interesting certainly . . . the physician survery was kind of weak (n=42). Figure 9 is curious. Actually the greatest health investment in the past AND present remains the common sense to separate our water from where we poop. It should be included b/c arguably the most effective healthcare is care that prevents the development of morbidity NOT treatment of morbidity. Accordingly, vaccinations come next b/c they are highly efficacious at preventing morbidity AND mortality. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of vaccination is reduced b/c we lack firm systems of compulsory vaccination and universal access to appropriate vaccines.

It is disappointing that most drug companies are now abandoning vaccine production. Despite the mad cash being used to entice, ANYONE to produce bioterror defenses against anthrax (current vaccine sux), tularemia, yersinia pestis (plague).

Antibiotics are a distant third. There's little doubt that abx are tremendous weapons against infectious disease. But I would guesstimate the most commonly prescribed abx for children is Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate). The most common indication is likely otitis media (ear infection). But there's ample data that otitis media should be treated like the common cold ie; symptomatic not alleged curative. The most damning evidence is that treatment with abx does not substantially affect the natural history of disease (intensity, duration, complications). The British treat OM with mild analgesics (pain), antipyretics (fever), and watchful waiting. I doubt GlaxoWellcomeSmithKlineBeecham (GSK) would like to see more American doctors follow suit.

It is an extremely profitable pharmaceutical reportedly earning $1.85 billion in annual sales worldwide for the year 2000 and $2.05 billion in 2001. GSK has characterized Augmentin as "the #1 antibiotic brand prescribed today."

I'm not implying abx are not important. But the health impact is not even in the ballpark with vaccines.

The most prominent issue I have with Figure 9 was the inclusion of plastic surgery. My best guess is that utility is a reference to something like cleft palate NOT breast implants.