Poul Nyrup Rasmussen in Washington DC

• “Healthcare for all” - a reasonable claim - 19-04-2007 10:02:34

  “Healthcare for all” is now becoming the top priority among ordinary Americans. And they have good reasons for doing so. Many pay an extremely high insurance premium and too many people cannot afford to pay the private insurance. Too many are simply outside the basic services. In Europe we use 7-9% of our gdp on our hospitals and health care. In US it is 14%. And every Democratic Congressman and Senator we talked to underlined their commitment to healthcare. The European way is giving a high service to all at a lower cost – and a universal service: no matter whether you are rich or poor. The old American system based on employers’ contributions is breaking down, that is what is happening in America now. I strongly support the new Democratic engagement in the US. Healthcare for all could be the first new move for a fairer society. It could be the first breakthrough for progressives. We agreed during our meetings to exchange information and experiences, on how to organize healthcare for all, how to finance it. The PES will be very active together with our member parties in this new cooperation. Progressive politics is, in essence, about creating better conditions for people, better conditions than the markets alone can deliver.

   

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