Posted on 07/12/2004 12:37:27 PM PDT by RetiredArmy
Dear America
by Klaus Rohrich
Last week John Kerry called for a national healthcare system in the U.S., like the one in Canada. If you Americans are planning to institute a national universal healthcare system similar to ours, you might want to look somewhere other than Canada for the ideal model.
To give you a brief overview of Canadas Universal healthcare system, it all started off well enough and ran like a top for many years. I remember when it was normal to call a doctor and get an appointment the same day, when one could get to see a specialist the next day or when someone needed a by-pass operation he or she didnt have to wait a year to get it. Of course, in those days health care wasnt exactly free, either. You see, all Canadians (except those who truly could not afford it) had to pay a monthly premium for their coverage.
Then the federal Liberals (the equivalent of your Democrats) decided to pass the Canada Health Act, which made medical coverage a basic human right. The act stipulated that health care was to be provided by the government only and that any form of private care was illegal. It put the burden of paying for healthcare into the hands of taxpayers, as the service would now be paid from the governments general coffers.
In addition, there were numerous other provisions, such as controlling costs by limiting doctors salaries and keeping nurses and other healthcare professionals at relatively low wages.
So the first thing that happened was that the doctors threatened to go on strike. The government called their bluff and told them to go ahead, but the doctors chickened out. Next, many of our best doctors moved to the United States, where government was not going to limit the amount of money they could earn.
Of course, the end result is predictable. Most jurisdictions in Canada now have a doctor shortage, despite the governments denial of this stark reality. Anyone without a family physician is forced to attend a soviet-style walk-in clinic to receive routine medical care. As transient physicians staff these clinics, there is no relationship that develops between the doctor and his patients and items such as annual physical examinations are not available in these clinics. If ones family doctor should retire, move or become deceased, then all of the doctors patients will be scrambling to find a new doctor. Yet, the government appears to be creating this doctor shortage on purpose, as enrollment in medical schools is strictly regulated and only a certain number of applicants are ever accepted, regardless of their academic standing.
The patient to doctor ratio varies from 2,000 to 4,000 patients per doctor, depending on geographical location. And many tests and procedures are beginning to be de-listed; meaning that the public healthcare system will no longer pay for them. Among these are items such as PSA examinations, which is used to screen for prostate cancer in men, physiotherapy or chiropractic treatments, certain dermatological procedures, such as the removal of skin growths and eye examinations.
The province of Ontario has recently decided that its "free health care" is now subject to an annual premium (spelled T-A-X), imposed on every taxpayer in the province. While this has angered most Ontario taxpayers, the government is refusing to look at any other alternatives to the way it currently provides healthcare.
While on a recent visit to Torontos Orthopedic and Arthritic Hospital, a facility specializing in the treatment of bone and joint problems, I overheard the harried receptionist at the clinic explaining why the patient would have to wait four to five months to receive surgical treatment.
"There are only so many orthopedic surgeons to go around." She explained. The patient was fortunate to have seen a surgeon and was waiting for a date for his procedure. Prior to his appointment with the surgeon, the patient had to be referred in writing by his family doctor, which usually takes from four to six weeks. After the initial visit, the surgeon likely requested an MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging procedure to determine the severity of the problem. Getting an MRI in Canada can take up to six months, although many Canadians choose to cross the border into the U.S. where they can get it next day for about $450.
After the MRI, the results of which can take as long as six to eight weeks to get back to the doctor, the patient has to make another appointment with the surgeon to find out if the procedure is warranted. From there an appointment is made, which usually takes two to three months. So from the time that one is aware of a serious problem, such a herniated vertebral disc until the time, the problem is actually dealt with, as much as a whole year can pass.
Other procedures can take longer, as in the case of hip or knee replacements, which can take three to four years of waiting.
Those Canadians who can afford it (including, by the way Paul Martin, our Prime Minister) will get their medical treatment at private clinics in the U.S. to avoid waiting. Often individuals who do this are vilified by other Canadians as "line jumpers", even though they jump the line outside the public healthcare system and pay for it themselves.
From where I sit, the U.S. healthcare system looks pretty good. Yes, its expensive, but the facilities are in place to provide care in a timely fashion. Those unable to afford medical treatment can still receive treatment provided at charity or county hospitals.
The Canadian healthcare system is currently threatening to collapse of its own inertia. Yes, its a good system we have here in Canada, so long as you make sure you never get sick. Thats why Americans would be well advised to look at a more flexible system than ours.
Klaus Rohrich is President and Creative Director of Taylor/Rohrich Associates Inc., a marketing and advertising firm that specializes in niche marketing residential real estate developments www.trmarketing.com. Email: klaus@trmarketing.com.
Thanks!
Yes, it was out of context. You left out the entire preceding paragraph which that line was in reference to. It was a little joke based on the predilection of people all around the world to blame everything on the US. I was joking, get it? Now excuse me while I ignore you.
And what's a $560 billion prescription drug bill?! Free enterprise?!
Ignore the cranky oversensitives on here sometimes. I recognized it as a joke and even snickered over it.
:o)
Thank you. I was starting to wonder if I had totally missed the mark in my attempt at humour. Apparently some people are humour-challenged.
Excellent post. You are exactly right. Those of us who do have access to good health care cannot safely ignore the political power of the increasing number of people who don't or the growing dissatisfaction of many who do. You know, there are some issues that can be blurred or evaded politically. But, when it comes to the basics, it's not so easy. It's difficult to hide unbreathable air, a lack of food or water, or the absence of housing. Similarly, people know when they don't have access to health insurance or when they can't access our health care system in an ordinary way.
I don't have any first-hand experience with the Canadian health care system, but I assume that if it becomes too unpopular, there will be political pressure to change it and it will be changed. I have that same expectation here about our system and I think that it might be a mistake for one party to leave it to another to take the initiative in this area.
Again, good post!!
exactly.. a joke to you. not to us.
Although some aspects of this article ae true the writer should do some research . We know every province is different to some degree. Ontario pays for PSA tests, I know because I get one every year. On your own , a private lab in Ontario will charge you $25 for one . MRI clinics charge about $700 . Make an appointment, go have it done as soon as the same day, or next day and get the results. There are several in Ontario and Quebec. But , if you NEED an MRI or CT scan, you get one at a hospital . If you want it for insurance purposes or you think you need one and your doctor doesn't think so , go pay for it .
I know two seniors who both had knee replacements in the last year. Both waited about 9-10 weeks . I know a middle aged man who suffers from severe rheumatoid arthritis who had a hip , ball and socket , replaced in a little over 3 months waiting . You don't find surgeons that can do that kind of work , without screwing up something else , on street corners . If you want the best, so does everyone else, so wait . I know one who does 10 operations a week . How much more would you , as a patient, want him to be doing?
I know cancer patients head for a cancer treatment center in London, Hamilton, Sudbury, there are several , as soon as , especially if they need to recover from surgery first , they can . That recovery time is often left out as being part of waiting .
The one thing these wannabe expert writers forget to mention are all the tests required before surgery. Everything from blood and x-rays to heart stress . All require appointments and waiting.
Cataract surgery takes about 3 months . It would be less but the eye surgeons protect their turf and regular eye doctors are prohibited from operating ....You would too if you got 500 bucks for a 11 minute procedure.
Bookmarked. Thanks for posting.
If you really want an answer, ask hillary.
Canadians routinely share such horror stories as:
Waiting on a gurney for 10 hours, only to have surgery canceled;
Waiting a year for an MRI;
Being denied emergency surgery on weekends due to staff shortages.
You would have to be a moron to believe Socialized medicine could compete with private delivery for quality and effectiveness.
Or a Liberal.
Maybe we should trade some Canadian stories for some American horror stories .
I never said anything about socialized medicine being good , bad or indifferent compared to private anything . I've depended on Canada health for over 30 years. For my self , my kids and Grand kids.
Don't even to begin to tell me whether it's good or not , especially when your criticisms are based on misinformed articles, your politics and your ignorance.
Yep... doctors are forced by default to use the most expensive procedures... because they are liable if they don't and a complication happens. Not to mention how many hurdles drugs have to be put through to be approved--meanwhile the government fasttracks a bunch of drugs like RU-486 for political reasons.
Personally I think it's the idea of insurance at all that caused this whole mess. If everyone had car insurance that paid for oil changes, gas fill-ups, car washes, etc., guess what happens to the price of gas?
I'd go the extreme and mandate that every insurance carry a minimum deductible of $3000 per adult, $500 per child over 3 years. You can bet that people won't be running to the doctor for colds or sore throats anymore.
Its important to note the Canadian system does not eliminate the need for Canadians to carry health insurance. The socialized medicine does not cover you if you're hurt at work (you need worker's compensation insurance), involved in an auto accident (you need auto insurance) or are travelling outside the country.
BTW, the taxation rate is around 55%-57% for the average working man in Canada.
My opinions are based on facts, Snowy.
And I will continue to inform the American public of the sham Canadian Socialized medical system at my pleasure.
Deal with it.
Taxation in Canada, premised on the benefits of Socialized Medicine, which is an ugly, ugly lie, are horrific.
People start paying income taxes after making about $6,000 U.S. per year!
For living incomes, the rate is upwards of 50% even for middle-manager types.
Retail taxes in Canuckistan are typically 15%!
Imagine paying 15% extra at the cash register for virtually everything!
And they promote the Soviet-style Socialized Medicine as the justification.
There is no relief on property taxes, as they typically exceed 2% of home market value per year! In ten years, the government owns 20% of your home value, typically more than first time homeowners do themselves!
Disgusting!
It's hard to believe any Canadian could be supportive of our so-called Medicare system in Canada.
I despise the system, and have nothing but contempt for the profiteers of human misery who draw their incomes from it.
That Canuckleheads pat themselves on the back for this abortive socialist scam, and the smarmy Canadian identity schtick that goes with it, makes me gag.
Hey! I agree with you. This is one of the things, along with the education bill, illegals, etc., that burns my butt with Bush. It is one of the reasons I refused to renew my membership in the RNC. I am very upset with this stuff just as you are.
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