BEYOND BORDERS
Exploring Health Care in Italy and Cuba
Photos from Cuba as part of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business Physician MBA Global Health Care Experience .
by PATRICIA PURCELL , MD , MBA
At the beginning of my medical career , there were significant discussions about the differences between health care systems in the U . S . and those in other countries . Articles written on why the cost of medical care in the U . S . was greater than the cost in other countries provided various reasons : higher prices for medical services , cost of drugs , administrative costs and of course our health care system with government regulation leading to increased profits from providers to insurance companies . Both federal and state policies have contributed to the consolidation of both insurers and hospital systems , restricting patient choice and thus driving up individual costs . It is 2024 and we continue to discuss inefficiencies in U . S . health care .
Is there a strategy to reduce health care costs in the U . S .? How do other countries manage to provide health care at a lower cost ?
Why are drugs less expensive abroad ? And how does the quality of health care in other countries compare to that in the U . S . when considering the cost structure ?
I believe most would agree that the health care industry is primed for change or disruption . Is there a need for more innovative approaches to diagnosis and treatment ? How do other countries address a range of health challenges , from chronic conditions to the recent COVID-19 pandemic ? Are other countries better equipped to embrace innovation by adapting regulatory differences ? These are all questions that reflect the potential for disruption .
While I may not have answers to many of the questions surrounding health care expenditure , I would like to share my insights from the Global Health Care Experience through the Indiana University Kelley School of Business Physician MBA Program , where I observed health care systems in two countries : Italy and Cuba . A key component of the two-year Physician MBA program involved
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