Washington, Nov 5 Americans face more difficulty than people in other developed countries in paying for their medical treatment, said a new survey, justifying why President Barack Obama is pushing for a major reform in US' healthcare system.

The annual survey of more than 10,000 primary care physicians in 11 countries found that about 58 per cent of primary care doctors in the US reported their patients often have difficulty in paying medical bills.

More than half of US doctors spend substantial time dealing with restrictions insurance companies place on their patients' care, said the 2009 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey published online in the Health Affairs journal.

"Our weak primary care system puts patients at risk and results in poor health outcomes and higher costs," said Karen Davis, president of the Commonwealth Fund, a private health policy group.

- (Agencies)