Universal Health Care

Our cover this week argues that a basic level of universal health care is sensible, affordable and practical—including in poor countries. Over half the world goes without essential care; those who get to see a doctor often receive rotten treatment. Universal care would bring broad social benefits, including to the economy. Countries such as Costa Rica and Chile, which spend a fraction of what the United States does and yet enjoy a similar life expectancy, demonstrate the scale of the opportunity    Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor-in-Chief