Study: Drastic healthcare reform unlikely

BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Nov. 24 (UPI) -- History, tradition and politics are likely to prevent the overhaul of healthcare systems in 21 countries, including the United States, research indicates.

"Our findings explain, to the dismay of many who would like to see more radical change in the U.S., why President-elect Obama's campaign proposal regarding healthcare reform was pretty much a center proposal, compared to (Republican candidate) Sen. (John) McCain's to the right," Indiana University sociologist Bernice Pescosolido said in a news release.

The study, by an international team of medical and political sociologists including Pescosolido, found that the healthcare systems in the 21 countries varied depending on the level of government involvement and expenditure, the Bloomington, Ind., university said in a news release.

Researchers found the systems shared similar pressures for change, but also discovered any change would be incremental and specific to a country and its people.

"Even though there are similar pressures on healthcare systems around the world, politicians really have to deal with public pressure, which is local, and this is going to produce different pathways to healthcare reform in other countries," Pescosolido said.