My blogging consœur, Victoria Ferauge—a longtime American resident in France—, has a useful post comparing the French and American health care systems. Drawing on a report by the GIS-IReSP, “Regards croisés sur les systèmes de santé américain et français” (voir ici), she observes that the French system resembles the American far more than it does other European health care systems, such as those in Sweden and the UK. Not the standard impression one has in the US (or in France for that matter). Victoria, in her own experience, has found the French system to be “pretty good,” no worse or better than the American and each with its strengths and problems. There’s no ideological bias in her views, BTW, as she’s a lifelong Republican in the US and self-identifies as a conservative. As a lifelong Democrat and self-identified liberal-moderate lefty, I agree with her.
UPDATE: Victoria, who was diagnosed with cancer recently, discusses the treatment she’s been receiving in France and the way the health care system has been working for her. Verdict: very positive. (June 7)
