The Reader: When it comes to healthcare, the US is ailing

Speaking from the White House after leaving hospital, where he had a small army of doctors, nurses and technicians after he contracted Covid-19 (most likely as a consequence of his failure to follow social distancing), Donald Trump told his countrymen not to be afraid of the virus, saying that America had the best medical staff and equipment in the world.

It must have been cold comfort to the 44 million Americans who have no medical cover and a further 38 million with insufficient medical cover. It also begs the question as to why the US, the world’s richest nation, with a population of 330 million, has had 215,000 Covid-related deaths, the most of any country. Twice that of India (104,000 in a population of 1.3 billion), and one-and-a half times as many as Brazil (147,100).

Go tell it to the marines, Mr President!
Robert Readman

Editor's reply

Dear Robert

President Trump says Covid-19 has left him feeling better than he did 20 years ago. Even if that were true, one can only imagine how his upbeat assessment will have gone down with the families of Americans who have succumbed to this horrible disease. Indeed, a recent study by the University of Pennsylvania suggests the true US death toll may be 75,000 higher when “indirect” casualties are taken into account. By trumpeting his gold-plated care, he has opened the door for his critics to make the case for expanding access to healthcare for the millions who can’t afford it.
Michael Howie, Foreign Editor

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