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Comment by rational_indian | Hacker News Reader

> US system is still better than that of third-world countries like India

I have never been to the US but from what I have been reading about it I have no question in my mind we are in a much better position. Please note I am mostly talking about the privately owned hospitals and clinics here. The government owned free clinics and hospitals are not used by anybody else except the poorest of poor in India.

> At least you might get some assistance.

This statement just reeks of ignorance and prejudice. There is a very good chance that people facing an expensive medical procedure will have higher chance of survival in India due to the abundance of advanced medical facilities throughout the country.

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As an Indian who grew up in a medium sized town in India and who has lived in a medium sized town in the US, I would argue that the US health system is much much superior to the Indian heath system. If you want to talk about private clinics in India, compare them with the treatment that you will get in the US if you are paying out of pocket (as you'd do in private clinics in India), or at least with what you'd get if you have a good insurance plan in the US. The quality of treatment in the US is much better.

People facing an expensive medical procedure may have higher chance of survival in India, but people facing emergency medical procedure certainly do not. Have you ever faced a medical emergency outside of the big metropolitan cities in India? My father had a cardiac arrest and he lost his life because neither the ambulance nor the hospital had a working defibrillator. And could not find one for the three hours that he was in the hospital (This incident took place in a state capital and not some tiny town). In contrast, the emergency response system in the US is amazing. Even the ambulances are well equipped with emergency care equipment.

Please accept my condolences on the sad demise of your father.

I totally agree with you on the state of emergency medical services. We still have a lot to improve on here but things are getting better with time.

I don't even know why I chose India as my comparison. It was indeed prejudice and I'm sorry for any offence caused.

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