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polistra's avatar

Supposedly the ancient Chinese paid doctors when the patients were well, not when they were sick. By one account:

Historically in China, each village was under the care of one doctor. In return, they took care of him (fed him, clothed him, etc.). What's so different about this from the exchange that goes on in modern healthcare? The traditional Chinese doctor's job was to keep the village from getting sick in the first place. Once people got sick, they were unable to support the doctor. It made more sense for him to keep them well than to wait until they were sick.

I don't know if this is true, but it would certainly reverse the incentives.

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INGRID C DURDEN's avatar

it would be good if we had a quack in town. unfortunately it are all spreaders of misinformation and needle pushers.

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