All total, the FDA approved 121 drugs in 1996. The benefits are six new AIDS drugs, nine new cancer drugs, a new drug for Alzheimer's disease and the first therapy for Lou Gehrig's disease. Many of these approvals came with review times of less than one year. We also benefit from 43 break-through devices the FDA approved in 1996. Some of these devices improve treatment for nearsightedness, others improve the process for Pap Smears.
Devices generally take longer to be approved, so that process is currently under review.
Differences in health care practices make it difficult to determine which system offers the greater benefit.