Having read a reference to a freelance writer and consultant in the US facing potential bankruptcy because his young son came down with pneumonia, I was reminded of a conversation I overheard on the train yesterday morning, which made me wonder about the priorities of contemporary society. Sitting on the opposite side of the carriage from me were two 'suited and booted' managerial types, seemingly en route to a meeting of some kind, and discussing their stock in trade. There were a large number of 'management-ese' buzzwords in evidence, talking about 'business opportunities', 'costs', 'change management' and the like. All very conventional, it might be said - except that it was apparent that their line of business was healthcare provision. While I accept that healthcare has to be paid for, the 'commodification' of people's well-being, the evident assumption that there was little or no difference between health and the production of jam or shoelaces, I found extremely distasteful. The idea that the principal motivation of medicine is to make money rather than to make people better, even in a relatively 'socialised' system such as we have in the UK, is just disheartening.
Love & best wishes to all
Sammy B
In this country, the moment that hospitals became "for profit" entities, the costs of health care skyrocketed. As it is, the care at two local for-profits is so poor that I have told friends that if they have to call an ambulance for me, tell the driver which hospitals to take me to, and they're not the for-profits!
ReplyDeletePeace <3
Jay
Hello Jay
DeleteI've never watched Michael Moore's Sicko, but, from what I've read about it, it portrays all the horror stories that a privatised healthcare system seems to unavoidably entail. The idea that the UK could be heading the same way is very disturbing.
Love & best wishes
Sammy B
Hallo Sammy,
ReplyDeletewe have the saying: "Hauptsache die Kohlen (money) stimmen". (The main thing the coals / money is right enough).
Nikki
Guten Tag Nikki
DeleteIt seems, in so many areas of modern life, that money is the only thing that matters. A more altruistic, people-centred attitude would be nice at times, with healthcare, in my opinion, being one area in particular where need rather than greed should be the determinant.
Love & best wishes
Sammy B