Two Countries, Two Directions: How The U.S. and Venezuela Compare in Healthcare

The U.S. health care jungle fares badly when compared to health care systems in other wealthy, capitalist countries. However, even Western Europe and Canada can learn a great deal from the examples of Cuba and Venezuela, where health care is a human and constitutional right and the well being of the people is central to the national mission.

In this workshop participants will be made aware of healthcare models that are an alternative, not only to the U.S. but also to Canadian and European systems. Using video and discussion, participants will play a modified version of the Game of LIFE, based upon observations of the U.S. and Venezuelan healthcare systems, respectively. The game will compare and contrast a people oriented healthcare system to a profit centered one. This workshop will show how one group in D.C. is organizing a communally based alternative.