<P> The U.S. is one of two countries in the world that allows direct - to - consumer advertising of prescription drugs . Critics note that drug advertisements cost money which they believe have raised the overall price of drugs . </P> <P> When health care legislation was being written in 2009, the drug companies were asked to support the legislation in return for not allowing importation of drugs from foreign countries . </P> <P> A poll released in March 2008 by the Harvard School of Public Health and Harris Interactive found that Americans are divided in their views of the U.S. health system, and that there are significant differences by political affiliation . When asked whether the U.S. has the best health care system or if other countries have better systems, 45% said that the U.S. system was best and 39% said that other countries' systems are better . Belief that the U.S. system is best was highest among Republicans (68%), lower among independents (40%), and lowest among Democrats (32%). Over half of Democrats (56%) said they would be more likely to support a presidential candidate who advocates making the U.S. system more like those of other countries; 37% of independents and 19% of Republicans said they would be more likely to support such a candidate . 45% of Republicans said that they would be less likely to support such a candidate, compared to 17% of independents and 7% of Democrats . </P> <P> A 2004 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report said, "the United States is among the few industrialized nations in the world that does not guarantee access to health care for its population ." There is currently an ongoing political debate centering on questions of access, efficiency, quality, and sustainability . Whether a government - mandated system of universal health care should be implemented in the U.S. remains a hotly debated political topic, with Americans divided along party lines in their views of the U.S. health system and what should be done to improve it . Those in favor of universal health care argue that the large number of uninsured Americans creates direct and hidden costs shared by all, and that extending coverage to all would lower costs and improve quality . Cato Institute Senior Fellow Alan Reynolds argues that people should be free to opt out of health insurance, citing a study by economists Craig Perry and Harvey Rosen that found "the lack of health insurance among the self - employed does not affect their health . For virtually every subjective and objective measure of their health status, the self - employed and wage - earners are statistically indistinguishable for each other ." Both sides of the political spectrum have also looked to more philosophical arguments, debating whether people have a fundamental right to have health care provided to them by their government . </P>

What type of healthcare system does the united states have