[Perspectives] Putting a price on care

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Source: The Lancet

Original: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00002-4/fullt...

Published: 2026-01-10

The article describes a specific bill from an American hospital for the delivery of a child. On the invoice, the costs are detailed even for completely normal operations during a "normal" birth. A significant surcharge is indicated, for example, for one sanitary pad. Another item is the fee for one dose of common over-the-counter pain relievers. The bill also includes separately billed performance for skin-to-skin contact between mother and newborn. The text contrasts these billed items with the reality of universal healthcare in the UK paid for by the NHS.