Conversations on Health: How We Get There - with Stephani Shelton

You got an overview of the Czech Republic’s health care system in Episode 1. Unlike ours in the US - it’s a centralized system which is relatively similar to those in most European and Scandinavian countries. Every working adult pays into it. And everyone in the country has a similar level of care. So what happens when someone gets really, REALLY sick there? Meet Steve Fisher - an American writer who’s lived and worked in the capital city – Prague - for the past 30 years. A few years ago a freak infection almost killed him. It’s pretty dramatic.Note: all episodes are also available in video form on YouTube.

Episode 1. Some years ago I discovered that like a lot of you --- I really care about good health. And when COVID first hit us - I – like a lot of you – discovered that the US was woefully unprepared for a major public health crisis. So I set out to do a podcast series about health care - who has it and who hasn't and why. And how we might do better in the US.

I’m starting with a typical European - mostly public health care system in the Czech Republic because I spend a lot of time there. You can compare it to your own experience in our very fragmented PRIVATE system in the US. Like all the European and Scandinavian countries and the United Kingdom – working Czechs and their employers pay a lot in taxes and insurance fees to support most of the overall health care system. It isn’t pure-play socialized medicine as you so often hear about Europe. But the government does pay for the old, the very young and those without jobs. And EVERYONE has similar, solid coverage.

So recently I sat down with an internationally known expert on health care - Dr. David Marx - in his office in Prague. He heads the Department of Public Health of the Third Faculty of Medicine – part of the renown Charles University Medical program. I asked Dr. Marx to explain how the Czech Health System works and how it’s paid for. Note: all episodes are also available in video form on YouTube.

In the second episode of Conversations on Health you'll meet a friend of mine who lives and works in the Czech Republic. A few years ago he got very sick and is very, VERY grateful for how well the Czech health system took care of him. I hope you'll enjoy the podcasts which will be quite wide-ranging. And please, DO subscribe so you won't miss any. Thank you so much!