PrintApril 28, 2009
Are Mexicans sicker because of socialized medicine?
Writing in Best of the Web Today of the Online Wall Street Journal, James Taranto points out a devastating fact about Mexico, hit hard by the outbreak of swine flu. Mexico, which has had about 70 swine flu deaths out of 1000 cases, a fatality rate of 7% which
is far higher than the 2.5% fatality rate from the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-19, although the latter was many orders of magnitude more widespread, killing 40 million people world-wide.
Why such a high rate in Mexico? Taranto speculates because the government provides health care"? Or, as he mocks
But . . . but . . . Mexico has socialized medicine!
What?! Is it possible that citizens that have access to "free" medical care, available to all, are actually sicker than those who don't? Apparently so.
