Blog Question

Japan:

What do you think about the mandatory Japanese "Medical Re-Investment Fund" in health care delivery? "Medical Re-Investment Fund" is the fund required by Japanese government to ask all Japanese doctors to contribute their profits into such funds and used for medically related investments only, NO personal usage such as yachts, vocations etc. but only advancement toward medical cares.

Russia:

In 1991, the Russian Federation was formed after the fall of Communist USSR. Russia continued the tradition of universal free medical care from the Soviet era, even as GDP declined about 50% by 1995. In the years preceding and following Russia's declaring independence, the population's life expectancy at birth has fluctuated dramatically, and the elderly comprise an ever-increasing percentage of the population. Please comment on the relationship between these facts, health financing, and Russia's sudden and difficult transition to a market economy.