Health care tops list of solicitous concern of US and China

Medical problems are identified as the No. 1 issue of most citizens in US and in China as well. Leaders in both nations grapple with a growing gaps between rich and poor and an existing health care system that has failed to keep up with the demand spurred by needs of the folks. China's economy has rapidly developed, health care coverage has not expanded correspondingly. In China, hospitals have been pushed into a market oriented system, selling medicine has become a major source of revenue which causes medical expenses to rise. In the United States,the market system has been in existence for many decades but pharmaceutical firms are making excessive profits as leading candidates have been contending such to the voters before Presidential election in November 2008. Here is the common ground for the USA and China in 2008 and beyond...
Washington Post, January 9, 2008 issue on page A15: Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid - three programs that go to older Americans representing more than 40% of federal spending. Congressioinal Budget Office projects that these programs could easily grown to about 70% of the budget by 2030. Food for thought for domestic priorities other than defense and other related costs.
Francis Shieh a.k.a. Xie Shihao on Thursday,January 10, 2008.