Question on the Frontline report on international healthcare last night

[rurallib]

One issue that continues to come up is who will pay for medical educations. Was that addressed in last nights story? I know in Great Britain the medical education is paid by the state. Or at least that is what I was told by a doctor from England.
Do the other countries subsidize education? I was in & out so I missed some of the show last night.
Were I to sink hundreds of thousands of dollars into my education, I would be concerned about having limited opportunities to recoup the money.
And I am 100% for the best univeral HC we can get. One payer would be best ......

[MountainLaurel]

1. Most do

There's a discussion on the WashPost Web site now with the directors, and someone asked that question.

[Cresent City Kid]

2. Don't hold your breath

I haven't viewed the program yet (plan to tape local rebroadcast) so I can't answer your question, but I doubt if signifiacant funding will be spent on such a thing. The budget deficit created by top-end tax cuts will force cuts on current programs, and will kill any new and creative programs like the one you suggest. We have to stop going backwards before moving forward.

[prairierose]

3. Yes, he mentioned that...

in most industrialized nations, university is paid for. Those Dr.s do not start their practices with thousands and thousands (I am sure over 100,000 in debt) for every US student who graduates from med school. It is probably twice that now.

But all students in those countries can get a University education as long as they have the grades to be accepted.

[Selatius]

4. We can't do it now. Not anymore with these atrocious deficits we keep running.

Under Bush, the debt nearly doubled in size, and we've got large annual deficits that need to be paid off. First, balance the budget and start a program to undo the borrowing Bush started. Then, we can discuss funding for medical reforms like universal health care or subsidized educations for med students.

[rurallib]

5. I would think this would be very important in a 'universal' health

care system and should be figured into the total cost. With health care costing this country @$3 trillion currently, I would think the savings that a UHC program had should be able to pay for the education.
If education isn't a part of the program, it would be a deal breaker I'd think.

[dger11]

6. First year of medical school, and I am already $45,000 in debt.

This is the biggest concern for me, since the total will be around 200 grand. If a UHC program ever comes into play, the education needs to be subsidized.

[rurallib]

7. I totally agree

The British doc I spoke with was at a Mitt Romney rally. He said without that subsidy the whole system gets flushed. Romney didn't think it was necessary.