Seriously, Only The Left Would Think Any Differently! -- US Has Highest Cancer Survival Rates -- Money Made The Difference!

Spending on health care was a major factor, the study of 31 countries said.

Major factor in what you ask? 

There is a huge variation in cancer survival rates across the world, a global study shows.

The US, Australia, Canada, France and Japan had the highest five-year survival rates, while Algeria had the worst, Lancet Oncology reported.

The UK fared pretty poorly, trailing most of its western European neighbours - although the data is from the 1990s since when survival rates have risen.


Spending on health care was a major factor, the study of 31 countries said.


(...)

While the US led the way with more than 13% of gross domestic product spent on health, Canada, Australia and the best-performing European nations were all spending about 9% to 10%.

The UK was spending just over 7% but that figure has now been increased following record rises in the NHS budget to bring it much closer to the likes of France and Germany.

Algeria was spending around 4%.

The importance of money was further illustrated by an ethnic breakdown of outcomes in the US.

White Americans, who are on the whole wealthier and therefore more able to afford the insurance which underpins the US system, were up to 14% more likely than others to survive cancer. 

BBC News

I thought we spent too much for the results we received, that's what the left keeps telling us!

Just a couple of extra points:

• I would rather have a country that has a financial incentive driving the development of cutting edge treatments, even if all I could afford is the older generation as it is often better then the standard treatment elsewhere.  Tomorrow I may actually need today's cutting edge treatment even if it is no longer cutting edge -- this was my stated position long before I became ill and it is still the case.
  
• With all of the programs available, the US government pays more in health care costs then any other nation does with their nationalized plans (nearly $700 billion for the fiscal year UK is about $184 billion)
• Uninsured in America can be broken down like this, illegal aliens, those who qualify for existing programs but haven't signed up for some reason, and people who choose not to get coverage, primarily younger workers.  (Only a quarter of the uninsured are below the poverty level and 28% have incomes 300% or higher, 48% are white, 21% foreign born non citizens (pdf file).)
  
• There is not a crisis in people who don't have access to health care.

DKK