Letter

Health care in the US and Canada

BMJ 1994; 308 doi: 10.1136/bmj.308.6931.793a (Published 19 March 1994)
Cite this as: BMJ 1994;308:793.2

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  1. A Watson,
  2. J Halpin
  1. Department of Public Health Medicine, Sunderland Health Commission, Sunderland SR3 4AF.

    EDITOR, - Minerva1 refers to a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine that compares expenditure in the United States and Canada.2 The authors note the greater expenditure on health care and poorer outcomes in the United States. Per capita expenditure is 40% higher in the United States despite the higher numbers of doctors, beds, and admissions (and longer lengths of stay) in Canada. There was also greater variation of expenditure within the United States.

    Examination of admissions by diagnostic related groups suggests that American patients require slightly more complex care. Although …

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