Public health as economic infrastructure

A conservative economic case supports universal baseline health care. Healthy people are more likely to be happy and economically productive, creating a virtuous circle for the nation. Reliable care also helps families raise healthy children and gives the state capacity to respond to epidemics and other emergencies. Employers benefit because they do not have to administer equivalent insurance or lose trained staff to untreated illness. Support for the service does not require approval of every treatment or management choice. The criticism falls chiefly on layers of bureaucracy, while doctors and nurses receive credit for delivering valuable care.