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Press release
Press enquiries
For Economist Intelligence Unit:
Joanne McKenna +44 (0)20 7576 8188 / joannemckenna@eiu.com

                                                    For immediate release: October 1, 2009

       Half of Americans believe government has the wrong approach to healthcare

   •    Survey of citizens in US, UK, Germany and India finds healthcare high on list of
        public concerns

A new report from the Economist Intelligence Unit, commissioned by Philips, reveals that
49% of Americans think their government has the wrong approach to healthcare. In addition,
almost one quarter of US respondents said they were not satisfied with any aspect of their
healthcare system, according to a survey conducted during July.

Three quarters of the 481 Americans surveyed were optimistic that they would receive good
quality care if they fell ill. But the same proportion is concerned about how they would pay for
that care. Cost has been at the heart of the US healthcare debate, and more than half of the
survey respondents say they are not prepared to pay more in any form for improvements in
healthcare services.

"The demographics say the status quo won't work," said Dr James Rohack, president of the
American Medical Association in an interview for the report. He also predicted that the
severity of health problems, including obesity and diabetes, would put extra pressure on the
system: "As physicians, we know what the disease burden is coming down the pike."

Other countries surveyed are facing their own health woes. Citizens in the UK, whose
National Health Service has been criticised in the US, feel that they don’t have enough
influence over how they are treated, while Indians are keen to have greater access to
healthcare across the board. Germans continue to be dissatisfied with their health service in
spite of major reforms undertaken in recent years. For example, 62% of Germans surveyed
think their government has the wrong approach to healthcare, as compared with 37% of UK
respondents and 29% of Indians.

Other key findings in the report include:

   •    US citizens in the survey see healthcare as the second most important priority for
        their government, after the economy. Defence, crime, education and the environment
        were all deemed less important.

   •    More than half of respondents (and 61% of Americans) say they are not willing to pay
        extra for an improved healthcare service.

   •    Over 80% of respondents agree that their health is their own responsibility. Over half
        of the US respondents, more than any other country surveyed, say their government
        should not legislate to encourage citizens to adopt healthier lifestyles.




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“For many governments the financial outlook has worsened considerably, while the window
for reform is getting narrower. This report finds that for healthcare reforms to be effective and
receive the public support they need, policymakers must strike a bargain, and do it soon,”
says Iain Scott, the editor of the report.


         Health reform: The debate goes public is available for free download from
                  www.eiu.com/commissionedresearch/Philips/healthreform


Press enquiries:
Economist Intelligence Unit
Joanne McKenna, Press Liaison, +44 (0)20 7576 8188, joannemckenna@eiu.com

About the research
Health reform: The debate goes public is the third in a series of four reports focusing on healthcare,
commissioned by Philips and written by the Economist Intelligence Unit as part of the 2009
GetInsideHealth programme of research. It is based on a survey of 1,575 citizens in the UK, US,
Germany and India, across a range of ages, levels of education and employment status, conducted
during July 2009. The sample included 481 respondents from the US. This and previous reports are
available free of charge at www.getinsidehealth.com

About the Economist Intelligence Unit
The Economist Intelligence Unit is the business information arm of The Economist Group, publisher of
The Economist. Through our global network of 650 analysts, we continuously assess and forecast
political, economic and business conditions in more than 200 countries. As the world's leading
provider of country intelligence, we help executives make better business decisions by providing
timely, reliable and impartial analysis on worldwide market trends and business strategies. Follow us
on www.twitter.com/theeiu

About Philips
Philips is a health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through timely
innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and
design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise
of “sense and simplicity”.

Philips simplifies healthcare and are committed to developing tools that deliver value throughout the
complete cycle of care—from disease prevention to screening & diagnosis, to treatment, health
management & monitoring. Through combining human insights and clinical expertise, Philips aims to
improve patient outcomes while lowering the burden on the healthcare system.




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