Canadian Healthcare System vs Europe or USA ?

[pfezziwig]

A report was recently published called the 'Euro-Canada Health Consumer Index 2008'. In it they are comparing our healthcare system to a publically funded European system, a much better comparison than to the USA private sector system.

When it comes to patient rights and providing the healthcare consumer with information Canada ranked poorly. Canada also finished near the bottom for pharmaceuticals funding, overall our system covers about 40% of the expense for patients while in Europe it closer to 90% !

Our system is focused on providers rather than users. Patients lack guarantees of timely and effective treatment. European healthcare systems have strong patient rights laws, something Canada does not have at all.

I felt that patients concerns where being ignored as the report states. I believe this patient feedback is sorely needed and the more we listen to the users the better we can improve our healthcare services, rather than our current top down approach. I started a website up last year (HealthcareReviews.com) to provide patients/consumers with the ability to rate their doctors and hospitals services because there is no other outlet. I believe this patient feedback can help improve our healthcare system.

Let's stop comparing our healthcare system to the USA and raise the bar. We can learn a lot from the european systems too, they get a better bang for their buck. Comparing our system to the USA will just keep our standards lower.

[margrace]

A report was recently published called the 'Euro-Canada Health Consumer Index 2008'. In it they are comparing our healthcare system to a publically funded European system, a much better comparison than to the USA private sector system.

When it comes to patient rights and providing the healthcare consumer with information Canada ranked poorly. Canada also finished near the bottom for pharmaceuticals funding, overall our system covers about 40% of the expense for patients while in Europe it closer to 90% !

Our system is focused on providers rather than users. Patients lack guarantees of timely and effective treatment. European healthcare systems have strong patient rights laws, something Canada does not have at all.

I felt that patients concerns where being ignored as the report states. I believe this patient feedback is sorely needed and the more we listen to the users the better we can improve our healthcare services, rather than our current top down approach. I started a website up last year (HealthcareReviews.com) to provide patients/consumers with the ability to rate their doctors and hospitals services because there is no other outlet. I believe this patient feedback can help improve our healthcare system.

Let's stop comparing our healthcare system to the USA and raise the bar. We can learn a lot from the european systems too, they get a better bang for their buck. Comparing our system to the USA will just keep our standards lower.

Finally someone with some good information.

[eyeball]

This healthcare review should also let people rate their regional health boards, provincial health ministries and insurance plans.

[guyser]

This healthcare review should also let people rate their regional health boards, provincial health ministries and insurance plans.

Why bother?

I suspect strongly that the messages left are just bitchfests for the whiners. People who have good experiences aren't likely to sign in and praise,

Judging by the comments so far, it seems there is either a glowing report (the Dr's kids and wife?) or a total slam.

People bitch about the triage system, and that means mom has to sit with junior and his little cut for 4 hours while the heart attack/stroke/car crash victim comes in and is seen right away.

Thats what it'll turn into.

[Leafless]

A report was recently published called the 'Euro-Canada Health Consumer Index 2008'. In it they are comparing our healthcare system to a publically funded European system, a much better comparison than to the USA private sector system.

As long as doctors are allowed to remain independent and work for themselves rather than become civil servants our system will never be socialistic to the degree of European countries.

We reside in North America and is inevitable our system will slowly become privatized and fully comparable to that of the U.S.

[Renegade]

A report was recently published called the 'Euro-Canada Health Consumer Index 2008'. In it they are comparing our healthcare system to a publically funded European system, a much better comparison than to the USA private sector system.

When it comes to patient rights and providing the healthcare consumer with information Canada ranked poorly. Canada also finished near the bottom for pharmaceuticals funding, overall our system covers about 40% of the expense for patients while in Europe it closer to 90% !

Our system is focused on providers rather than users. Patients lack guarantees of timely and effective treatment. European healthcare systems have strong patient rights laws, something Canada does not have at all.

I felt that patients concerns where being ignored as the report states. I believe this patient feedback is sorely needed and the more we listen to the users the better we can improve our healthcare services, rather than our current top down approach. I started a website up last year (HealthcareReviews.com) to provide patients/consumers with the ability to rate their doctors and hospitals services because there is no other outlet. I believe this patient feedback can help improve our healthcare system.

Let's stop comparing our healthcare system to the USA and raise the bar. We can learn a lot from the european systems too, they get a better bang for their buck. Comparing our system to the USA will just keep our standards lower.

Interestingly this report examines the perspective from one side of the participants in healtcare; that of the healthcare consumer. Why not also factor in the perspective from the healthcare providers, and those who fund healthcare.

I suppose we would all only buy Lexus, BMWs, and Mercedes if all we cared about was the end product and had no care for other factors.

[Keepitsimple]

Here's an interesting article about how Germany, Netherlands (Dutch) and Switzerland have managed to blend Private Insurance into their publicly funded systems. It's a real shame that our Left wing parties and media have polarized Healthcare in Canada. This is very good reading material - it analyses each of these three countries. Following is just the summary:

Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany have each found different answers to the often heard criticism that a private health insurance system does not allow citizens with a high individual health risk to insure themselves. They have created healthcare systems that are less two-tiered than those in their neighbouring countries, because they allow people to buy private health insurance without having to pay twice. Because their systems rely to a larger extent on capitalisation, they have also created an investment pool of domestic capital. Though the systems have their flaws, in general the few privately insured healthcare systems of Europe seem better equipped for the future than Europe's many government regulated systems. They are interesting laboratories for healthcare reform. They are consumer driven and they are trying out a variety of interesting ideas, such as medical savings accounts, healthcare vouchers, and bonuses. Private systems allow for experimentation, which is a necessary prerequisite for finding solutions.

Healthcare in Europe: http://www.canadafreepress.com/2006/brussels011306.htm