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enns
Joined: 02 May 2006
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:35 am Post subject: Canada Health Care System Lags Behind Europe: Study |
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Canada ranks a dismal 23rd out of 30 countries in the "consumer friendliness'' of our health care system, according to a study by a pair of private think-tanks.
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"It's certainly not news to Canadians that diagnosis and treatment waits in Canada are long. But it is a surprise to see that we finish at the very bottom of the Index in this area," she said.
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The study also notes that Canada spends more on health care than any other country surveyed, even though it earned poorer than average results. That means Canada ranks dead last in a statistical grid the groups called the "Bang for the Buck" index. |
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080121/health_care_080121/20080121?hub=TopStories
As a Canadian, I'm not surprised. Isn't it time we considered adding some private elements into our system, as the top countries in the world do? |
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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:38 am Post subject: |
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I would think privately delivered and publicly funded would be more efficient. As in, socialised medical insurance and not socialised hospitals.
I want the equality of access that has Canada and the timeliness of access of America. |
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Octavius Hite

Joined: 28 Jan 2004 Location: Househunting, looking for a new bunker from which to convert the world to homosexuality.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:41 am Post subject: |
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As a Canadian, I'm not surprised. Isn't it time we considered adding some private elements into our system, as the top countries in the world do? |
There is a private system, in fact the world's best private system is a mere hour's drive away from most Canadians, the grand ole US of A!
Any Canadian who doesn't want to wait for health care can quickly, conveniently, and easily buy any health services they so desire.
See problem fixed.
Oh yes, thats right most Canadians, like 95% of us CANNOT afford private health care. We just can't. Those who can, can drive across the border whenever they like. The fact that most Canadians (95%+) don't is proof that we just can't afford it.
While the Canadian system has some problems, a US style system is not the answer (hell, its not even the answer for the US).
Give us some fresh answers, not just dribble spouted by right-leaning news sources (looking at you CTV and National Post). |
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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:48 am Post subject: |
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Hite, there are more than two possible health care systems. It isn't a Canada vs. America thing. France has, by almost all accounts, the most effective and efficient health care system in the world and there is heavy private involvement. It isn't an either/or.
Also, the American system is very far from 100% private.
Also also, the National Post is the only paper that deviates from the Liberal Party line. I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it. Debate and diversity of thought is needed in every country, even Trudeaupia. |
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Octavius Hite

Joined: 28 Jan 2004 Location: Househunting, looking for a new bunker from which to convert the world to homosexuality.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:02 am Post subject: |
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Listen, the fact of the matter is that most of these for-profit-people always eye to the south.
If some things can be privatized (and in Canada there are many things) and still be made to work I am cool with that, but his implication was that he wants more American style health care, which is broken for the 40 million+ people without insurance or who are under insured.
And if anybody actually bothered to read the friggin article, rather than just jumping on the lets give people choice bandwagon (which is merely a smokescreen for trying to undo nationalized medicine), you would have seen that the story lauds canada's system.
We have better medical outcomes than most countries. the article points out that we have problems with patient rights and information sharing.
The problem there is that we have a federation and each province sets their own Health Care regime and they don't share info, nor do they seem to want to.
So Canada's healthcare has issues, but we are still one of the best as proven by our medical outcome results and the cost effectiveness of it all. |
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enns
Joined: 02 May 2006
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:04 am Post subject: |
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Hite, I would say that your post is the typical political response whenever the health care debate in Canada surfaces. Peel has it right, this isn't a 100% public or 100% private issue. We can have a hybrid system which still ensures that Canadians receive quality care regardless of their income.
The problem is that this debate has yet to materialize. Whenever it is raised, all those who deviate from our system are branded as individuals trying to "Americanize" Canada, and the debate is instantly stifled.
Only 2 other counties in the world have our big government, 1950s style system: Cuba and North Korea. Meanwhile, the average Canadian pays around $4500 a year in taxes diverted to health care. This is going up yearly, while our global standing continues to fall.
We need to move past the "Canada vs. America" debate: no one wants an American system and I can assure you that Canadians would not allow it to be delivered. We need to look at the European powerhouses to provide quality health care to every citizen regardless of their income. |
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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:06 am Post subject: |
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I did read it, and the Canadian system does many things very well. But this idea that any reform the left doesn't like = George W Bush is well, nonsense. I would not even describe the American system as a "system" as that suggests a coherent set of institutions. It is a hodge-podge if all the worst elements of other systems. |
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Octavius Hite

Joined: 28 Jan 2004 Location: Househunting, looking for a new bunker from which to convert the world to homosexuality.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:12 am Post subject: |
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enns, we already have a hybrid system in Canada. There are many private clinics for many things. Some of those I disagree with some I don't.
and again if you want to pay for healthcare you can drive or fly or take a boat or the train or a bus across the border.
Also people can fly to India or Thailand now for stuff.
The reason people defend health care so veameantly is because we have seen what happens when these ideas get started.
Most Canadians believe that everyone has a right to health care.
And if you don't want me to spin it as American vs Canadian style, please give me some examples of another country doing something privately that works and I will consider it. |
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enns
Joined: 02 May 2006
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pesawattahi
Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Location: it rubs the lotion on it's skin or else it gets the hose again
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Octavius Hite

Joined: 28 Jan 2004 Location: Househunting, looking for a new bunker from which to convert the world to homosexuality.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:44 am Post subject: |
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You're welcome, I guess thats why all your seniors drive to Canada to buy those great drugs. |
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pesawattahi
Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Location: it rubs the lotion on it's skin or else it gets the hose again
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:14 am Post subject: |
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Octavius Hite wrote: |
And if you don't want me to spin it as American vs Canadian style, please give me some examples of another country doing something privately that works and I will consider it. |
France has a public and private system side-by-side, and its considered one of the best health care systems in the world.
I'm getting the sense that you really don't understand what the problem in US healthcare is.
In the US, we dont really have a private free-market system. Doctors don't compete. Insurance regimes set prices and doctors charge more for those who don't have insurance. Its a privately-funded profit-oriented set-market regime.
But don't forget Medicare and Medicaid. These are publically funded programs
In 2010, Medicare and Medicaid will cost the US 5% of its GDP. To give you some idea, US military spending (exclusive of Iraq and Afghanistan) costs 4% of US GDP.
So, Canada's total PPP GDP is $1.181 trillion, and America's is $13.06 trillion. That means the US, in 2010, will spend $653 billion on its entitlement health care programs, which will be roughtly 50% of Canada's total GDP.
Its simply false to say that the US is a completely private system. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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Octavius Hite wrote: |
Quote: |
As a Canadian, I'm not surprised. Isn't it time we considered adding some private elements into our system, as the top countries in the world do? |
There is a private system, in fact the world's best private system is a mere hour's drive away from most Canadians, the grand ole US of A!
Any Canadian who doesn't want to wait for health care can quickly, conveniently, and easily buy any health services they so desire.
See problem fixed.
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That's only if you have the cash in the bank. I don't believe you can get insurance in Canada that will pay for a timely MRI in the USA. That's the real choice in healthcare, the additional insurance you're allowed to buy for private services.
Indeed, why train doctors in Canada to send them to the USA to treat Canadians? That's plain silly. Let's just have a real two tier system and stop pussyfooting around. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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Kuros wrote: |
In the US, we dont really have a private free-market system. Doctors don't compete. Insurance regimes set prices and doctors charge more for those who don't have insurance. Its a privately-funded profit-oriented set-market regime. |
I'm not sure how you eliminate the insurance companies from the equation. People will always buy health insurance. Insurance companies do have networks, in network and out network. The in network they negotiate lower rates. "We'll send you 10,000 patients so whoever can quote us the best rate wins." Isn't that free market at work? |
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