Publicly funded medicine

Publicly funded medicine is a healthcare system that is financed entirely or in majority part by government funds (taxes or quasi-taxes). Publicly funded medicine is often referred to as "socialized medicine" or "nationalized medicine" by its opponents, whereas supporters of this approach tend to use the terms "universal healthcare", "single payer healthcare", or National Health Services. It is seen as a key part of a welfare state (see Welfare State for an interpretation in UK terms).

External links

• Devereaux PJ, Heels-Ansdell D, Lacchetti C, Haines T, Burns KEA, Cook DJ, et al. Payments for care at private for-profit and private not-for-profit hospitals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. CMAJ 2004;170(12):1817-24.
• Devereaux PJ, Choi PT, Lacchetti C, Weaver B, Schunemann HJ, Haines T, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing mortality rates of private for-profit and private not-for-profit hospitals. CMAJ 2002;166(11):1399-406.
• Woolhandler S, Himmelstein DU. When Money is the Mission ? The High Costs of Investor-Owned Care. N Engl J Med 1999;341:444-6.