Comment Re:Redistribution (Score 1) 739
So, how does that work, exactly? Obviously you don't allow normal market pressures to impact that. Could it be that there is some committee or even a normal government bureaucrat that decides how to deal with 1000 people who all want their heart surgery performed by the same couple of people in the same one hospital?
In that case there's no solution anyway, so the only question becomes whether you do it like in Sweden, i.e. where the patient in most need gets the best surgeon at the best hospital, or you do it likt in the US, where the "richest" patient gets the best surgeon in the best hospital.
And that's, incidentally, why we have much, much better outcomes for the same money.
But in general the answer to your question is "yes". In Sweden you can go to any hospital/doctor to seek treatment. If the same treatment is available by your own county, you can be made to wait a couple of weeks, but even that's not a hard rule, if you push, you can go directly. It's not uncommon for your local doctor to discuss with you where you'd want to go, when you're going for a speciality that is of the "one of a kind in the country" that you seem so afraid you'll miss.
Oh, wait, I get it. You're one of the people in your country that doesn't pay any of the taxes that fund your healthcare system. I guess it does feel like a pretty good system, having other people buy for you the professional services you want.
No, I pay out the nose. No question about that.
Now, of course your "podiatrist" spiel is just silly. With health care based on need, you'll just be sent home if it turns out that you don't actually have a need. And that's the way it should work. Now of course, if you'd actually go to the doctor because you're to lazy to cut your own toe nails, I'd prefer our system. If you think that's why you're at the doctor there's a good chance there's something wrong with you, but at the other end of your body, and I'd much better that you'd actually go to the doctor then, then not being able to, due to cost. I'd much prefer to have those people in the hands of psychiatrists than running around complaining they can's see a doctor.