Mar 17, 2009 03:40 PM
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(Updated Mar 17, 2009 07:52 PM)
Yesterday evening I was watching Sicko - a documentary on the American healthcare system and its health insurance, made by Michael Moore. This documentary had me alternating between fits of laughter and tears.
It investigates the functioning of the American healthcare and the health insurance sectors. The director, Moore, interviews individuals who were denied health insurance claims on various counts(like list of exceptions, preexisting conditions etc). Moore makes his point by juxtaposing situations that US citizens face by similar situations elsewhere in the world(Canada, UK and France).
It also looks at the healthcare provided by other countries, viz., Canada, UK and France - where healthcare(provided by the government) is either free or the cost is very, very nominal. The comparison with healthcare provided by Cuba to its citizens to that given by USA to its citizens(notably, heroes of 9/11) is both humorous and touching.
It may not be an objective evaluation of the healthcare system in US, as it highlights only the negatives of the system and doesn't try to show any positive instances. But Moore never intended it to be objective in the first place; he wanted to make a case for universal, free healthcare for all citizens of US, which I feel he has made.
Looking at the way the health insurance and corporate hospitals are developing in India, it is worrying that India may go the American way as far as healthcare delivery is concerned.
Highly recommended. I saw it on Star Movies on Sunday afternoon, probably there will be a re-telecast. I checked the Star program schedule for the entire week, it wasn't scheduled, so try getting it on a DVD / CD.
(This review probably needs some polishing).
PS: I am not a good judge of things like Plot, cast performance, soundtrack and cinematography; what I can say was that nothing was jarring or bad about it.
I have compiled a list of interesting questions that will be answered when you see the movie:
Do you know the cost of an inhaler in USA and the same inhaler in Cuba?
What are the personal details that one has to give in Cuba to get medical treatment?
Do you know the healthcare attention that the 9/11 accused get?
Do you know the healthcare attention that the 9/11 heroes get?
If 10 pills cost$6.0 in UK then how much would 100 pills cost? If your answer is 60 then you are(obviously) wrong.
What does the cashier in a UK government hospital do?
PS: These questions may be answered after seeing the movie.:)
