The Dangers of Undermining Patient Choice: Lessons from Europe and Canada

The U.S. is once again embarking on a national debate over health care reform, and many Americans want to embrace a system similar to those of Europe or Canada. This study includes nine papers from a number of economists and health policy experts from those countries.

These experts reveal how their governments are micromanaging their health care systems by imposing price controls, limiting access to prescription drugs, hindering research and innovation, and exerting political control over health spending decisions. As a result, patients face long waiting lines, often go untreated, or are treated with old and outdated technologies.