Here are some facts. The vast majority of Canadians prefer our medical system to the US medical system. Two, almost nobody in mainstream Canadian society uses private clinics outside of the public system, unless it's for things like cosmetic surgery or laser eye surgery. You can buy upgrades to basic service if you want to. Three, yes, there are people who fly to Canada for medical care; for example, the Hospital for Sick Kids does a lot of humanitarian projects. The difference is we don't do the "money pays" projects, the jump the queue guys etc etc. .
This is not "liberal spin". Contrary to what some of you Americans seem to think, Canada is not a "socialist" or "liberal" mecca. We are moderates when it comes to anything political.
You think you know more about this here then someone who has lived in Ontario for 45 years, and raised two kids ? Seriously, believe what you want, you are sounding arrogant. Surf seems to think that Ottawa is abnormally full of mentally ill people. It's a ridiculous claim but you know what, that's how it is here people just push their agenda and the truth is secondary.
ps One has to ask if US social systems are for the people or for the 1% who are already abusing the country in so many ways. So some rich dude gets quick access to a top doctor and quality care, the price seems to be plenty of other people getting substandard or no care at all. We care more in Canada it seems.
I simply listen to the many Canadians who I work with every week. By listening I learn more than many people who are hung up on their pre-conceived opinions, and are unwilling to evolve their perspectives even when presented with new facts.
The majority of the media and articles in Canada support my assertions regarding the Canadian healthcare system. Similarly all the surveys of Canadian residents support my claims. In summary, the large majority of Canadians support the concept of universal public healthcare. The majority believe the taxes they pay to support universal healthcare are reasonable. However the majority of Canadians are very upset with the excessive wait times and the declining quality of medical care.
So a middle-class family has their high-school hockey player endure a sports injury and require knee surgery. In Canada they would wait 8 months for an MRI and an additional 6 months for surgery - all the while needing to wear an entire length leg brace to immobilize the knee for over a year while hobbling through school each week. With recovery time included the kid will be out of playing hockey for two years.
In the U.S. the same child from a middle class family will get an MRI the next day, surgery next week, and be back playing hockey within a few months.
Explain to me why waiting months in Canada for basic surgery is viewed as "superior healthcare" or even reasonable?
In the meanwhile - private clinics are growing at an astounding rate in Canada. In fact it is one of Canada's fastest growing industries -
Private health-care services growing in Canada and from the government -
PRIVATE HEALTH CARE FUNDING AND DELIVERY UNDER THE CANADA HEALTH ACT
In Toronto - I am seeing private clinics on every other corner --
Five of Toronto’s most exclusive private medical clinics (I would urge you to read all the comments).
Of course after seeing the huge success of private care, the provincial governments are also getting into private care -
BC government turns to for-profit clinics, could create "full-blown" private hospitals
--------------
P.S. - BTW the Hospital for Sick Kids only treated in Canada 4 children flown in from overseas last year.
It is a teaching and paediatric research hospital associated with the University of Toronto. They consulted/referred 500 out-of-county foreign patients to locations elsewhere in the world; the majority of these flown to the U.S. The huge majority of patients are Canadian citizens. From an "international" perspective, the Hospital for Sick Kids is involved in treating children living in Canada whose parents are not permanent residents of the country - the parents are required to pay.
See this note from their website...
NOTE: Health care in Ontario (and in Canada) is not free. It is paid for through provincial health-care insurance, provided only to residents and citizens who pay taxes in Ontario. International patients (Canadian or non-Canadian) who are permanent non-residents of Canada must pay for treatment/surgery/assessment/consultation at SickKids. This can be either through health insurance, self-pay or through a guarantee from their government or embassy.
P.P.S. - I believe that Washington is full of mentally ill people, we elected them to office. Why should Ottawa be any different.
