Comments on: Canadian Healthcare Author Writes a new Ending

By: Canadian Health&Care Mall

Canadian Health&Care Mall — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 10:48:06 +0000

I know I’m nitpicking but there is no town in Ontario called “Norwalk”. Hard to have faith in an article who can’t get the details correct.

By: Quebec Doctor

Quebec Doctor — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:03:17 +0000

Privatization and the addition of “user fees” is the new Mantra in Quebec. This is not only true with health care but with all government services. For example, since 2001 an entry fee ($3.50) is required to walk in our provincial parks. This may be a barrier for exercising outdoors but maybe we can avoid being in ruinous shape!

By: Dr. Val

Dr. Val — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 03:28:59 +0000

My parents live in Canada and they love the healthcare there. Of course, they’ve never actually been sick.

I had an ACL repair in Canada in my late teens and will never forget how horrible the care was – inadequate pain management, no adherence to evidence based protocols, no follow up with physical therapy… took me 12 months to recover. Of course, this is anecdotal and the same could have happened in the US I suppose. But I’ve never seen it – and I’m a rehab doc.

By: Ian Furst

Ian Furst — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:32:04 +0000

Even if the town name is wrong (and you never know there are tons of little hamlets not named on google) the sentiment is unfortunately true. When a new FD moves to a small town the way they accept patients is an issue. If the FD worked for the governement they could mandate who to accept. Because each FD is their own enterprise (who receives 99% of their dollars from public insurance) they are free to accept or decline whomever they choose as long as it doesn’t violate human rights charters. The lottery is true.

By: Elaine

Elaine — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:44:11 +0000

I know I’m nitpicking but there is no town in Ontario called “Norwalk”. Hard to have faith in an article who can’t get the details correct.

By: Ian Furst

Ian Furst — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:51:12 +0000

Mr. Gratzer overstates the case; “Canadian health care stands in ruinous shape”. I’ll be the first to acknowledge the rationing care, lack of primary care providers and long wait times are the cross our citizens must carry. Mr. Castoguay is not advocating the de-socailization of Canadian Health care, more acknowledging that public dollars and public control are not enough. Personnally I agree with his stance on co-payments and some privitization.

But what is the alternative? The PCP ratio in Mass. is no different than Ontario. ER wait times are similiar. The only difference is that services are rationed by wait times not the ability to pay (or who you know – in Canada politicians and doctors rarely wait for care) but the cost to the American citizen is tremendous. Mr. Castonguay’s change is not so radical as Mr. Gratzer is reporting.
http://www.waittimes.blogspot.com

By: Marc Bernard

Marc Bernard — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:31:49 +0000

And yet, the public resistance to change in the healthcare system here is staggering. Yes, there are problems with it, but I don’t think for a minute that Canada wants US-style healthcare.