Hours after President Donald Trump touting a vote in the House of Representatives to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, he praised the Australian publicly funded, Universal Health Care System. Trump says Australian health care system is better than US. Let’s know more about Trumps irony comment.
Trump Says Australian Health Care System Is Better
In a meeting with the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in New York City last Thursday, Trump said – “It’s going to be fantastic health care,” he added “We have a failing healthcare – I shouldn’t say this to our great gentleman, and my friend from Australia, because you have better healthcare than we do,”
Medicare – Australia’s Universal Health Care System
Australia has a universal health care system which is known as Medicare. This health care system gives free access to doctors and public hospitals for all the citizens of the country. The Australian health care system is funded by the government.
How Australia’s Healthcare Wins The Battle With US
Medicare is ranked sixth out of 55 countries in terms of its efficiency, while US is ranked 44th. The Australian government spent around 9 percent of its GDP on health care, and the US spent around 17 percent which is nearly double. According to a 2014 Commonwealth Fund report – Australia ranked 2nd in quality care out of 11 affluent nations, while the US ranked 5th. The most interesting part is that they provide health care to almost everyone in society and this is something which is not in place with the America’s Healthcare system.
In the past, President Trump did express this affection for government run systems which provide universal coverage. Way back in the year 2000, he described the Canadian-style single-payer health care as something the US should also consider.
Did Trumps Comment Make Sanders Laugh?
One of the most prominent advocate for single-payer health care in the US, Sen. Bernie Sanders, quickly took on Trumps comment and exploited it. On seeing Trump making that statement, he laughed with delight and said – “The president has just said it. That’s great!
He told CNN – “Well Mr President, you’re right, in Australia and every other major country on Earth they guarantee health care to all people. They don’t throw 24 million people off health insurance. So maybe when we get to the Senate we should start off with looking at the Australian health care system,” Sanders told CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
Date:May 05, 2017