I am a Canadian, and I know the system works well for most people. Even those on wait lists are prioritized by the degree of emergency. And in extreme cases, if the hospitals can't meet the needs there are public funds to send patients to facilities outside of Canada for immediate care. Perhaps not the best system, but we have a lot fewer people getting into extreme debt because they needed a life saving operation. We are not socialists, we are a democracy and our democracy decided a long time ago that access to health care is a human right, regardless of socio-economic status. It's not a perfect system but I fear the day Canada's system looks like the US system. Also, I am not against capitalism either. And I don't believe the US Health Care system's troubles are present simply because of the private market - it probably has a lot more to do with health insurance policies and companies, trying their best to not pay for required services. Just my humble opinion, from my humble canadian perspective.
By the way, I'm really looking forward to Sicko. Mostly because it looks like he's taking a few stabs at Bush and I love laughing at him.
__________________ DizzyDee
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell  |