[MMM]

I broke an ankle in Japan and had to use the local hospital. That hospital had a poor reputation, and the service I got matched the rumors I had heard. I will say that since then I have visited friends in the hospital before in different places and there was a real range of quality, cleanliness.

Overall I think it is hard to judge, but I the hospitals I have seen in the US seem a little more modern.

At the same time, the cost to me for casting, medication and heat "rehabilitation" over the 6 weeks or so of healing was under 30 dollars US. Even with health insurance I have probably spent nearly 1000 dollars on much more minor medical issues than a broken ankle over the last few years in the US.