The August 16 issue of Financial Times reports that the Minister of Health in Germany is issuing new policy guidelines to get control of spiralling health costs. The paper report that as of the end of 2008, the cost of drugs and treatments had risen between 10 and 15% over the previous five years in Germany and that the country is now spending around $3,800 per year per person on healthcare.
Meanwhile, the United States government has stalled in its' attempts to control healthcare costs since it doesn't seem to be a dire issue to policy makers. This year alone, however, insurance premiums are reported to be rising as much as 20% while the US spends a bit more on healthcare per person. Almost twice as much as Germany actually, over $7,200 per person.
