treatable

Most of the cases were treatable, but there is growing concern that some strains can't be dealt with so easily.

“But the overall picture is dire. As a Commonwealth Fund report puts it, compared to other high-income countries, ‘The U.S. has the lowest life expectancy at birth, the highest death rates for avoidable or treatable conditions, the highest maternal and infant mortality, and among the highest suicide rates.’”

"Advanced breast cancer is highly treatable and we want kinder, better treatments."

Dr Trudi Seneviratne, registrar at the RCP and a commissioner on the Bipolar Commission, says it is "completely treatable" with a combination of medication, talking therapies and lifestyle factors.

For a treatable disease, this number could be slashed if the correct care was on offer, say experts.