Here in Holland we had similar headlines which resulted in calls for privatisation. We privatised our healthcare system quite recently, in 2006, and the jury is still out. It's unclear what the effects of the whole ordeal have been on efficiency, waiting times, and costs - it's such a complex market that it's not really possible to isolate causes for trends.

Our current system is very complex, with commercial insurers operating in a highly regulated industry. The idea is that strong government oversight and legislation ensures that everyone is covered adequately at an acceptable rate, while the free market forces help reduce inefficiencies, reduce wait times, and allow consumers to select their own fitting care based on quality and personal preference.

In practice the high amount of regulation makes it hard for the insurers to actually compete effectively against each other. The margins of profit are very small and any insurer looking to compete on price is forced to cut costs somewhere, which they do by limiting optional care in the small print. Any Dutchman looking to switch is forced to compare long lists of optional treatments, trying to figure out what exactly you're going to lose if you want to save those 3 euros a month.

So what does all of this mean for me personally? The good news is I live in a country where healthcare is taken seriously and any insurance will cover me in case of any serious problem. No ambulance ride, cancer, or emergency room visit can ruin my life. However, I look jealously to systems like the ones in the UK and Belgium, where the same applies without the additional headache of finding the best insurance for my particular situation. I doubt whether any of the efficiency gains actually exist, and it surely can't be enough to make it worth it for me personally.