It is important for both Americans and Canadians these days to learn about the healthcare delivery systems in both countries. Neither model is ideal because the perfect health care system is an unattainable goal; there will always be patients that will fall through the cracks. However we can learn from each other's mistakes.
Many Americans have seen commercials in their media telling them they don't want the Canadian Healthcare system. Unfortunately most of these commercials are based on generalizations about the Canadian model. For example, they have been told that we have huge waitlists in Canada. Yes in fact we do, but they don't tell you if a patient is deemed urgent the Canadian system does move that patient up the waiting list. I have personally experienced this situation where I saw my G.P in the morning, the specialist in the afternoon and by that evening I was on the operating table. Remember your model is a for profit system; there are big corporations behind those commercials that have a significant financial gain to loose. It is to their benefit to highlight the small numbers that do fall through the cracks.
On the other side of the international boundary is Canada. As a medical consumer of this country I do see erosion of our healthcare and it has me concerned. Many of my fellow countrymen flood the newspapers saying that they want to see a two-tiered system. Are you aware that the Canadian Health Act was not protected under the NAFTA agreement? If you allow a two- tiered model to develop, you also open the door for a for-profit system in Canada to flourish. Our current universal health care will become a thing of the past and those in medical crisis will not get the much needed health care.
By educating ourselves we gain the knowledge to lobby for the changes we really want. We ask intelligent, informed questions of our politicians keeping them accountable and coming closer to a sustainable system that covers all citizens.
Go To Page: 1 2
