Posted on 06/18/2009 7:48:10 PM PDT by Libloather
Canadian Health Care We So Envy Lies In Ruins, Its Architect Admits
By DAVID GRATZER
Posted Wednesday, June 25, 2008 4:30 PM PT
As this presidential campaign continues, the candidates' comments about health care will continue to include stories of their own experiences and anecdotes of people across the country: the uninsured woman in Ohio, the diabetic in Detroit, the overworked doctor in Orlando, to name a few.
But no one will mention Claude Castonguay — perhaps not surprising because this statesman isn't an American and hasn't held office in over three decades.
Castonguay's evolving view of Canadian health care, however, should weigh heavily on how the candidates think about the issue in this country.
Back in the 1960s, Castonguay chaired a Canadian government committee studying health reform and recommended that his home province of Quebec — then the largest and most affluent in the country — adopt government-administered health care, covering all citizens through tax levies.
The government followed his advice, leading to his modern-day moniker: "the father of Quebec medicare." Even this title seems modest; Castonguay's work triggered a domino effect across the country, until eventually his ideas were implemented from coast to coast.
Four decades later, as the chairman of a government committee reviewing Quebec health care this year, Castonguay concluded that the system is in "crisis."
"We thought we could resolve the system's problems by rationing services or injecting massive amounts of new money into it," says Castonguay. But now he prescribes a radical overhaul: "We are proposing to give a greater role to the private sector so that people can exercise freedom of choice."
Castonguay advocates contracting out services to the private sector, going so far as suggesting that public hospitals rent space during off-hours to entrepreneurial doctors.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibdeditorials.com ...
That's a really sad situation.
From a blog -
It will be interesting to see if, or how, American Liberals and Progressives talk about this issue and if they do, how they will either dismiss the above story or arrogantly proclaim that "they can do a better job."
To what country do kings, queen, royalty, celebrities and heads of state travel to, to receive medical treatment? Do they seek treatment in Canada, Cuba, the U.K.? Or do they travel to the United States? In what country did Ted Kennedy receive treatment for his tumor?
Do yourself a huge favor and read the entire IBD story. Become informed on the myriad of downsides and problems associated with socialized healthcare. Don't let the Democrats pull the wool over your eyes. The United States has the best healthcare system in the world. Does it need some reform? Yes it does. Does it need to be "socialized"? No, not now, not ever.
http://mrssatan.blogspot.com/2008/06/canadas-healthcare-in-ruins.html
Ping.
Just contracting out services to the private sector won’t work. The key to the efficiencies achieved by private enterprise is market pricing. As long as the government is setting prices nothing will change.
“We thought we could resolve the system’s problems by rationing services or injecting massive amounts of new money into it,” says Castonguay. But now he prescribes a radical overhaul: “We are proposing to give a greater role to the private sector so that people can exercise freedom of choice.”
what a freeking concept!
Think about it: a lottery decides when you get a physicians’ visit.
Great article!!
Everyone in America should read it.
Notice how we never hear ANY success stories of socialized medicine? NONE!
Obama was talking about how socialized medicine had succeeded in “some nations” yet when Robert Gibbs was asked to NAME one of those nations, he couldn’t. But he was sure that “they” (the people of that mythical country) were happy with their health care.
Socialism, in every form, has totally and utterly failed every where and every time it has been tried, yet the Moron In Chief is sure that it will succeed here because HE is in charge.
But then, I guess you have to define success. If you set out to destroy the US and bring us down to turd world status, socialism is a roaring success. Just look at Cuba.
ping
Socialism and Communism look good when you are a party leader,eating caviar.
They dont look so good when you are one of the masses fighting over a rotten potato.
Everyone associated with the president is a fool or a dork.
Everyone seems to miss the point.
“Health care reform” has nothing what so ever to do with health care reform.
It is all about seizing more vast power over our lives, down to the tiniest aspect of our enslaved existence.
I heard someone (maybe Rush) mention in jest that the media was fawning over how physically fit and trim the zeros were and maybe they should write a diet book and call it “The Obama Diet”. It would begin like this: “Have your government paid private chef prepare two $125/lb imported Japanese steaks....”
Not only that, those who now have sugar plum visions of nationalized health care dancing in their heads also probably figure more state and national lotteries would help FINANCE their Big Plan.
I wish it were so. I personally believe that know exactly what they are doing and are traitors.
Just as with Chrysler, govt will determine not only price, but which and how many doctors will be included in approved ‘provider groups’. Large numbers of solo and small group doctors will be excluded and access to the number of MDs accessed now will be reduced.
40 years... Obama will be in his 10’th term when our new system is that old.
Ah yes...Boureugois Beef.
I had some surgery once and commented to the doc “That sure is expensive! But I would also hate to see your insurance bills.”
He replied that is one problem, but more so was that he can only charge a little to many of his patients. I’m not sure if it was rates dictated by insurance, if he was compelled by law to still treat them even if they couldn’t pay much, or if he was personally motivated to help them without charging more - although what he said next seemed that it was forced: “Whoever tells you we don’t already have socialized medicine - don’t believe them.”
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