The New England Journal goes a step further than some in its coveage, publishing a “results style” table that looks more at home with in randomised control trial analysis than in a commentary on healthcare policy.

The essence is that healthcare is becoming more important priority for those in the US when ranked alongside other issues such as employment, war in Iraq, education, defence etc.

That said, its undeniable that healthcare is playing an incresing part of election strategy in the US. How long till we here in the UK actually see a tangible difference in healthcare policy from the leading political parties (Labour/ Conservative) on issues such as these.

Sound bites from a health savvy politician in any televised debate could potentially leave the oponent with egg on his face after any exchange.

Probably the most heavyweight stat is this

7% Republican Voters Surveyed said that expanding healthcare coverage across the US was important

in contrast to

94% of Democrats Voters Surveyed said that expanding healthcare coverage across the US was important

Who said that politics was boring. And we haven’t even mentioned stem cells…

We fully support the increasing awareness of clinicians to the wider issues in healthcare. Read the original article from the NEJM here.

J Bateman