Lancet's Healthcare Access and Quality Index

Lancet Healthcare Access and Quality Index

The United States ranked #35 in the above healthcare Access and Quality Index based on mortality from causes amenable to personal health care in 195 countries and territories between 1990–2015. Above, the United States is encased in a red box to make it easier to locate. Look at the names of some of the countries that ranked better than the US. Nearly all of these countries offer free healthcare to their citizens. In doing so, the need for healthcare to be profitable to private citizens is eliminated. This seems to allow the healthcare system to be more focused on the quality of the care given.

The diseases encased in a green box at the top of the chart above, are the ones that the US was given a particularly low score. This means that the mortality rate for cervical cancer, hypertensive heart disease, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease is significantly higher in the US than in 34 other countries that offer their services freely. Yes, there are unfortunate disadvantages to having free healthcare. Our only point here is that removing the need for profit for private citizens seems to be linked to a decrease in the mortality rate.