Troubles brewing for Canada's Health System

vaulos · Post by **vaulos** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 6:53 pm

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/ ... index.html

TORONTO, Ontario (AP) -- Canada's Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a Quebec law that banned private insurance for services covered under Medicare, a landmark decision that could affect the country's universal health care system.

The justices took a year to rule on a case that began in 1997, when George Zeliotis, an elderly Montreal men, tried to pay for hip replacement surgery rather than wait nearly a year for treatment at a public hospital.

Zeliotis told the high court that he suffered pain and became addicted to painkillers during the yearlong wait for hip replacement surgery, and he should have been allowed to pay for faster service with private insurance.

"It is indeed a historical ruling that could substantially change the very foundations of Medicare as we know it," said Dr. Albert J. Schumacher, president of the Canadian Medical Association.

Although the ruling was made on the Quebec law, it likely will affect other Canadian provinces that forbid residents from buying private health care insurance for treatment under the country's Medicare system.

Opponents of changes to Medicare claimed it could force Canada into a two-tiered health care system in which those who have deeper pockets get faster, better service from doctors who opt out of the public health care program...

Post by **Ddrak** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:19 pm

I think this is an excellent outcome for Canada's health system. The thing is the two tier system actually works - if you want better health care you should be able to pay for it, but the baseline of state sponsored health care should exist if you don't want, or can't afford to pay for something better. Naturally, moving elective procedures to the private system would free up the public system for essential care.

Dd

Narith · Post by **Narith** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 1:05 am

Problem with that though is that eventually you reach a point where the people paying for private health care don't want to be taxed to pay for the public health care, they lobby and you get stuck in the mire that is the American health care system. You will have people dying because they can not afford private health care, and doctors refusing to see critical care patients because they might die and lower the doctor's rating.

A two tiered system would work nicely if people were willing to continue to pay taxes for public health care, I just don't have enough faith in humanity to believe they would consider thier fellow humans over thier own greed.

Riggen · Post by **Riggen** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:09 am

I never realized that Canada's health care system was so...oppressive. It's actually not allowed to seek treatment outside the system they have in place? I comprehend the reasoning behind it but it raises my hackles.

jookkor · Post by **jookkor** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 4:05 pm

This is no big deal. In Alberta you have been able to use private insurance and even have the option of visting a private medical centre for years and it has not have any negative impact on healthcare, in fact it does nothing but help everybody.
Our provincial healthcare services have taken a few cuts over the past decade as Alberta balanced its budget and allowing people the option of seeking alternative avenues eases the burden of our provincial healthcare system by freeing up beds and personel. While this makes up a small percentage of patients, from the perspective of an individual anything that speeds up the process is very helpful.
Quebec should follow suit if they ever get an economy thats not on Alberta's dime and eases up on retarded laws that drive out investors and buisnesses.

Gelly kitty · Post by **Gelly kitty** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 9:15 am

The problem is, so many medical procedures are being "de-listed" anyway. If you give birth to a boy and want him circumcised you pay for it out of pocket. If you want treatment for allergies, you pay for it out of pocket now. Last quarter a hundred page document full of medical treatments being de-listed was published by Ontario gov. So already you have "rich people" getting better care then poor ones now the money paid by the "rich" patients will be funding the care of those who can't aford it.

Our friend lives in St. Saulte Marie Can, and just had a baby. Next baby she has she promices to go accross the border for.

Canada's HC is drowning as it is. They cannot keep doctors in their system. To fix that they've expanded the Physicians Assistant program. Now they are expanding the Surgeons Assistant role so the person cutting you open may not even have an MD next to his/her name.

On the plus side for Canadian Doctors, it's almost impossible to sue them if they screw up

jookkor · Post by **jookkor** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 9:41 pm

I think things like mutilating your baby and coping with the sniffles SHOULD be paid for out of the pocket. If everybody stoped going to clinics and hospitals for stupid common sense things everybody with real ailments would have a shorter wait.
I'm sorry but you dont need to waste the time of a man with ten+ years of education because you have a sore throat. its called a drug store, look into it!

Harlowe · Post by **Harlowe** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 5:46 am

Unless that sore throat is Strep and untreated it can lead to more serious problems not to mention the people you infect by being contagious for a longer period of time.

LayraLilliane · Post by **LayraLilliane** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 8:36 am

[quote="Harlowe"]Unless that sore throat is Strep and untreated it can lead to more serious problems not to mention the people you infect by being contagious for a longer period of time.[/quote]

Nice!