Norway's decentralized, single-payer health system faces great challenges
Article Abstract:
The structure, strengths and weaknesses of Norway's publicly-funded and operated health care system are described. Health services have been decentralized and are now delivered on three levels: national, county and municipal. National officials set policy and supervise delivery. The counties operate area hospitals and medical services, while municipalities provide primary health services. Employees, employers and the self-employed contribute to the insurance system on a percentage basis. Ninety-five percent of patients are satisfied with their physicians. Primary care physicians are valued. Waiting lists and the lack of patient options are perhaps the greatest drawbacks to the system. However, the Ministry of Health has proposed legislation on patient rights that would permit a second opinion, choice of hospital and other options. A government no-fault system is used to determine compensation for malpractice, which appears to prevent a large number of lawsuits.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
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Nuremberg and the issue of wartime experiments on US prisoners: the Green Committee
Article Abstract:
The publication of the final report of the Green Committee in JAMA in 1948 probably contributed to the failure of US medical researchers to apply the Nuremberg Code to their research. The Green Committee was headed by a US physician who testified at the Nuremberg Medical Trial following World War II. He refuted the Nazi's claims that US research on prisoners was just as questionable as the Nazi's crimes. He cited the conclusion of his committee even though it had not yet met. When the committee's final report was published in JAMA, it convinced US doctors that prison experiments were ethically acceptable.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1996
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