Only in Canada you say

[Yodeler]

LOOK AT THIS:

http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpos...32-c09b54f051e9

The Liberals and Jack argue that if private healthcare is OK'd many a doctor from public healthcare will be lost to it.

But when the American doctors want to come and help, they argue that .......... WHAT?? WHAT??? WHAT ???

I TELL YOU WHAT! THEY DON'T WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON TREATING YOU AFTER THE MRI or CAT scan reveals there is something that needs to be treated because that would be too costly. ESPECIALLY when it is a timely discovery. They'd rather it wasn't discovered until nothing can be done, crossing their fingers that you die pronto afterwards. Much cheaper that way. MUCH cheaper.

WHAT FU***NG BASTARDS!

In the mean time, the Liberals, Conservatives and NDP bigwigs go for their routine semiannual checkup to be pampered with MRIs, and CT scaned from head to toe.

So if you think we are JUST as backward as North Korea and Cuba, think again. Those two countries wouldn't dare ban the doctors from other countries who are coming to help you.

Only in Canada you say?

[Yodeler]

LOOK AT THIS:

http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpos...32-c09b54f051e9

"It seems to have gotten really tenuous there," Dr. Chesbrough said. "I love Canadians, but when people tell me their health care system is so good, I just roll my eyes."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've been rolling my eyes for years. And became vocal about it while working at NPWBN, about 5 years ago.

My opinion as to why the Liberals and the NDP don't want the American doctors with their portable Ultrasound, MRI, PET, CAT scan etc. clinics snooping around Canadians bodies is because American doctors are too stringent.

Let me give you an example:

I LOVE getting CAT scanned, so one day, as a treat, I went to a Canadian private clinic and got scanned. It's lot's of fun, let me tell you. But when they found a couple of things growing on one of my innards this time around ... that spoiled my fun a little. But the doctor immediately assured me that it's probably nothing to worry about and that I should come back for another CAT scan in about a year, just in case.

At about the same time my friend who also gets his kicks out of getting MRIed, CAT scanned etc. gets this strong urge to get scanned while in the U.S.. So he pops into the nearest clinic .... and guess what? They found the same growths as they found in me, and on the same innard to boot. What a coincidence! Except his growth was only half the size of mine. And HIS doctor didn't think it as funny as mine did, and ordered an array of expensive follow up tests, including my favorite, the PET scan. Lucky sucker!

Needles to say, the Canadian Medicare people weren't pleased.

Is that why Canada is fighting so hard to keep these American portable clinics out?

Is it because American doctors are too stringent and too stubborn, and won't lower their standards just to save Medicare piles of money on follow up tests?

That's my guess, anyway.

[Yodeler]

I love Canadians, but when people tell me their health care system is so good, I just roll my eyes. 

Yeah, the Canadian Medicare is in a shambles. But don't despair, Stephen Harper's Conservatives are rolling into power, a majority none the less, and Mr. Harper will bring our health care up to the level that our American friends enjoy today.

For now I'll just stay with what doctors Jonathan Swift (he lived to be over a hundred) swore by .... Doctor Diet, Doctor Quiet, Doctor Exercise, and Doctor Merryment.

[err]

But don't despair, Stephen Harper's Conservatives are rolling into power, a majority none the less, and Mr. Harper will bring our health care up to the level that our American friends enjoy today.

40 Million Americans (about 15%) have ABSOLUTELY NO HEALTH CARE.

Medical expenses is the #1 cause of bankrupcy in the USA - And a large percentage of them had (inadequate) insurance.

The wonders of private health care..... If this is where Harper will lead us, then who would want him.....

[August1991]

But don't despair, Stephen Harper's Conservatives are rolling into power, a majority none the less, and Mr. Harper will bring our health care up to the level that our American friends enjoy today.

40 Million Americans (about 15%) have ABSOLUTELY NO HEALTH CARE.

Medical expenses is the #1 cause of bankrupcy in the USA - And a large percentage of them had (inadequate) insurance.

The wonders of private health care..... If this is where Harper will lead us, then who would want him.....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

More scary, scary stuff... Witch hunts... Harper, the demon...

Harper and the Conservatives are not suggesting that we adopt an American-style medical system. The choice is not between "Canadian health care" and "American health care". Harper is suggesting that we let provinces reform the Canadian system. The choice is between "health care we've got now" and "something better".

Only the NDP, in fantasyland as always, presents the choice as "perfect health-care for all" v. "health-care only for the rich".

An entirely public health care system - without private sector involvement - is ideological, and pointless. It doesn't exist now, and if imposed, it would be a disaster.

----

And err, do you have links to support your statistical claims? I believe they are English-Canadian urban legends, but I'll stand corrected if you have evidence.

[tml12]

But don't despair, Stephen Harper's Conservatives are rolling into power, a majority none the less, and Mr. Harper will bring our health care up to the level that our American friends enjoy today.

40 Million Americans (about 15%) have ABSOLUTELY NO HEALTH CARE.

Medical expenses is the #1 cause of bankrupcy in the USA - And a large percentage of them had (inadequate) insurance.

The wonders of private health care..... If this is where Harper will lead us, then who would want him.....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

More scary, scary stuff... Witch hunts... Harper, the demon...

Harper and the Conservatives are not suggesting that we adopt an American-style medical system. The choice is not between "Canadian health care" and "American health care". Harper is suggesting that we let provinces reform the Canadian system. The choice is between "health care we've got now" and "something better".

Only the NDP, in fantasyland as always, presents the choice as "perfect health-care for all" or "health-care only for the rich".

An entirely public health care system - without private sector involvement - is ideological, and pointless. It doesn't exist now, and if imposed, it would be a disaster.

----

And err, do you have links to support your statistical claims? I believe they are English-Canadian urban legends, but I'll stand corrected if you have evidence.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

August is correct.

We can keep lying to ourselves that our current system works or we can work to change it. Of course left-wing socialists will try to say that anything but complete state-run socialist health care is the best but the proof is otherwise.

Look at other countries with two-tier health care. Are they really that bad???

[Riverwind]

Look at other countries with two-tier health care.  Are they really that bad???

1) We already have two tier heathcare. A lawyer I know in Vancouver has complete converage for healthcare in US hospitals if necessary as part of his company benefit package. People who claim that there is no two tier health care are just fooling themselves.

2) Most industrialized countries other than the US get better health outcomes per dollar spent than Canada and they all have a significant private sector.

[fellowtraveller]

Look at other countries with two-tier health care. Are they really that bad???

Canada has always had two levels of health care, defined on economic lines. Absolutely nothing prevents any Canadian with $ from going to the US, Europe or more recently Asia to obtain major treatment or surgery. For many years Iraq was a place to buy a new kidney (cost about $25K US, excellent private hospitals). None of that will change , no matter what, unless Layton gets his wish and reduces everybody and everything to the lowest common denominator. Crap care for everybody is his solution.

Many countries have two tier care. France has user pay fees(extra billing) and a two tier system and it works well, generally acknowledged as one of the best in the world. The UK has a two tier system, and the public system is lousy.

There are so many variants, the question as posed has little meaning.

[tml12]

Look at other countries with two-tier health care.  Are they really that bad???

1) We already have two tier heathcare. A lawyer I know in Vancouver has complete converage for healthcare in US hospitals if necessary as part of his company benefit package. People who claim that there is no two tier health care are just fooling themselves.

2) Most industrialized countries other than the US get better health outcomes per dollar spent than Canada and they all have a significant private sector.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You are correct. I mean so many of us use a bunch of private heathcare practices, including Paul Martin, here in Montreal.

Of course, if they are in Quebec these places will be *tolerated* (i.e. they don't exist) and if they are elsewhere then *the government is getting to them* (i.e. nothing will be happening anytime soon.

[cybercoma]

I love Canadians, but when people tell me their health care system is so good, I just roll my eyes. 

Yeah, the Canadian Medicare is in a shambles. But don't despair, Stephen Harper's Conservatives are rolling into power, a majority none the less, and Mr. Harper will bring our health care up to the level that our American friends enjoy today.

For now I'll just stay with what doctors Jonathan Swift (he lived to be over a hundred) swore by .... Doctor Diet, Doctor Quiet, Doctor Exercise, and Doctor Merryment.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Drawing parrallels to the American health care system isn't going to woo any voters, Yodeler. Not to mention it's completely incorrect. I find it hard to believe you're actually a Conservative supporter when you're talking like that.

[Yodeler]

France has user pay fees(extra billing) and a two tier system and it works well, generally acknowledged as one of the best in the world. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"User pay fees" would tremendously improve any health care system.

Nobody but nobody would be stupid enough to miss that first appointment to find out what ails them just because they had to shell out say ... twenty bucks.

The needy would also have to pay, but they'd be able to claim back that money at the welfare office. All it would cost them is an extra hour or two of their idle time.

Only the greedy GPs would have a legitimate reason to cry & holler because they would be losing their bread & butter ... the healthy patients.

Fock them I say!

[Yodeler]

http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpos...32-c09b54f051e9

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When I put out the above article I thought there would be lots of interest. But when there wasn't I was giving myself only a little chance of being able to read opinions and letters on it in today's papers.

But the papers are FULL of opinions and letters.

Here is just one example.

http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpos...2a-90946131d484