Canada's Health Care System

[Riverwind]

waiting list are there because mainly we have a shortage of doctors, how would this help if doctors are syponed off into the private sector.

That is false. We have a problem where many specialists are under utilized because the gov't will not pay to run the operating rooms that they need. Waiting lists are an unavoidable part of any system that has no other way to limit demand.

[Duke]

And how would a lot of us even afford that insurance. Be sensible, there are a lot of people out there on mack jobs, how would they pay. Why do I care because I was brought up as a Christian with Christian ideals.

Well maybe those like you who can't afford health care coverage get a subsidy of some kind like welfare and those of us who can pay do. It would be a better system once you get some compettition involved.

[geoffrey]

waiting list are there because mainly we have a shortage of doctors, how would this help if doctors are syponed off into the private sector.

That is false. We have a problem where many specialists are under utilized because the gov't will not pay to run the operating rooms that they need. Waiting lists are an unavoidable part of any system that has no other way to limit demand.

True, the Gimble eye clinic in Canada is limited by law to only work 4 months a year (well 4 months worth of surgery). So instead he works in the US.

We have tons of doctors, but an ineffective system of using them.

It's an easy out for politicans to say 'just not enough doctors, not my fault.'

[Temagami Scourge]

"We have tons of doctors, but an ineffective system of using them"

This is the biggest load of tripe I've heard yet. Tons of doctors? Ontario is crying for MD's. We have three-hour long waits at the local health clinic for the one doctor on duty. If you luck out and have a family doctor, keep them alive, whatever you may do.

Most of Ontario is without a family doctors, but I'm of the impression that the poster who made the above statement is likely an Albertan, and from my experience, Albertans don't have the most solid view on real life issues.

They are the people who somehow believe that following right-wing policies ensures that oil will grow beneath their feet. Hence, I can see someone saying "we have tons of doctors", when the reality is that many an aspiring doctor wants to get a piece of the oil money so they set up shop in Alberta.

That is an economic reality based on an incentive, but it is meaningless in a dicussion about Canadian health care.