An excellent article in the NYT about the rising cost in health care industry, particularly as it relates to the United States.

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The relentless, decades-long rise in the cost of health care has left many Americans struggling to pay their medical bills. Workers complain that they cannot afford high premiums for health insurance. Patients forgo recommended care rather than pay the out-of-pocket costs. Employers are cutting back or eliminating health benefits, forcing millions more people into the ranks of the uninsured. And state and federal governments strain to meet the expanding costs of public programs like Medicaid and Medicare.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/opinion/25sun1.html?pagewanted=1

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Since we have neither resources nor the infrasturctures to have a universal health care system in Nepal, I think we should focus on things that are practical and things that can improve the health conditions of the people.

I really liked Sanukaji's project (Sandra--I voted twice for the project :) ) in what it could do to reduce, if not eliminate, so many health problems that exists in the rural parts of the country. Yes, alternate sources of energy,  instead of firewoods that are commonly used in rural parts of the country, can greatly reduce the exposure of women and children to hazarduous conditions, thus reducing the risk of getting ill. That alone can go a long way to make people healthier.

Since there is no way that people in rural parts of the country can afford the insurance premiums to have health insurance, I think it is better to have a government regulated privatized health insurance programs, as a start-up, in our big cities where people are relatively wealthy and health conscious. With this smaller model, we can amend things, as it relates to our country, and include more and more people every year. This can also guarantee a sense of security to doctors so that they are likely to stay at home and offer their services.