Irish Healthcare ranked 19th in the World

[Guinnesslad]

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Ireland's healthcare is ranked 19th in the world, just behind the UK (18), miles behind France (1), and miles ahead of Canada (30) and the US (37).
Now I actually haven't had that much interaction with the HSE, but how is this possible with all the moaning about the Irish healthcare services?
Is all our complaining all nonsense, or did Harney pay off these fellas?

FULL LIST: http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html

[pfkf1]

Well if we are 19th in the world, God help all the other countries who are behind us, but 19th is nothing to be happy about, we should only be satisfied with first. A world class health care system is not 19th in the world it is number 1. Mary Harney and this government has failed in delivering a world class health service.

[hopi watcher]

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Ireland's healthcare is ranked 19th in the world, just behind the UK (18), miles behind France (1), and miles ahead of Canada (30) and the US (37).
Now I actually haven't had that much interaction with the HSE, but how is this possible with all the moaning about the Irish healthcare services?
Is all our complaining all nonsense, or did Harney pay off these fellas?

FULL LIST: http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html

This report appears to be about 10 years old. Regardless of what the report says, you should go to any AE this morning and ask those on trolleys what they think. Far more accurate that the convuluted criteria used by WHO.
(Harneys pals are surly scrapping the end of the barrel looking for some good news.)

[imokyrok]

I'd agree that 19th is nothing to be proud of given that we are meant to be 1st or thereabouts when it comes to quality of life. When you look in detail at the report spreadsheets it seems that we would be far lower down again if it were not for one specific measure "fairness of financial contribution" . In fact on the most important measure "Level of Health" we are 32nd .(" A good health system, above all, contributes to good health. To assess overall population health and thus to judge how well the objective of good health is being achieved, WHO has chosen to use the measure of disability- adjusted life expectancy.")

[seabhcan]

most important measure "Level of Health" we are 32nd .(" A good health system, above all, contributes to good health.

I think that the €50 tarrif for seeing a doctor must have something to do with this. Preventative care is scarce in Ireland, people only go to the doctor when they are already quite sick.

[gollywog]

The report is old but even still 19th is nothing to be proud of. Our economy has roared for over 10 years and our health service should have grown to one of the best in the world during that time.

The problem hasn't been money, the budget has quadrupled in that time.

The quality and education of our health professionals is second to none.

That leaves management.

[fergalr]

The report is old but even still 19th is nothing to be proud of.

Well, take into account what may have been quite a considerable climb..

[Kalif]

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Ireland's healthcare is ranked 19th in the world, just behind the UK (18), miles behind France (1), and miles ahead of Canada (30) and the US (37).
Now I actually haven't had that much interaction with the HSE, but how is this possible with all the moaning about the Irish healthcare services?
Is all our complaining all nonsense, or did Harney pay off these fellas?

FULL LIST: http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html

At least Britain has the excuse its a health service for the world.

[Defeated Romanticist]

Aha, I knew it, it's that infamous WHO report from 10 years ago.
I wonder how wonderful french health-care system really is,

This No.1 health care system has a prostate survival rate of 61%, US:81% and merry old England, well, only 44%.

Perhaps if you (and Michael Moore) did a little investigating on that report you would have found out that well you see, quality wasn't the only thing that mattered in hat their report of their's but things like Fairness in financing This was the main reaon why the oul US of A finished all the way down in 37th. The French system isn't fairing up well. A leading French researcher in the field, Alice Teil has recently advocated the French adaopt a health-care system similar to Utah of all places.

[hopi watcher]

The report is old but even still 19th is nothing to be proud of.

Well, take into account what may have been quite a considerable climb..

It is really silly debating a report that is years old, but suggesting that there has been a "considerable climb" is bordering on the lunatic. Tell that to the eldrly lady who lay on a trolley for 60 hours last week. The health service is a shambles because the polcy being pursued is to privatise as much of it as possible, so all plans have one eye on that end objective. Just check out where Mary Harney will be next Thursday the 24th Apr.