Spending more money on healthcare doesn't always lead to better health outcomes.
Flat of the Curve:
Imagine a graph with healthcare spending on one axis and health benefit on the other.
As spending increases, health benefit also goes up, but at some point the curve flattens out.
This means spending more money doesn't give you much more health improvement.
Why it happens:
Healthcare can mainly improve your quality of life, not necessarily how long you live (after a certain point).
Sometimes, extra procedures might even be harmful.
Doctors might recommend unnecessary treatments due to various factors.
The problem:
People often think more spending equals better healthcare.
This can lead to neglecting other important areas like education or housing.
Fear of death can cloud judgement and make people choose risky treatments with little benefit.
Key terms:
Flat of the curve: The point on the graph where more spending has little impact on health benefit.
Life expectancy: The average age people are expected to live.
Quality of life: How well you live, including physical and mental well-being.
Supply-led demand: When the availability of a service (like surgery) creates a demand for it, even if not always necessary.
BMJ (2015). Richard Smith: ‘Flat of the curve’ healthcare - The BMJ. [online] The BMJ. Available at: https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2015/03/23/richard-smith-flat-of-the-curve-healthcare/ [Accessed 23 Jun. 2024].