Hello everyone,

Linda Herman wrote:

>      I was wondering about the views of the Canadian list
>members. Some Americans believe if we ever do get National Health
>Insurance it should be modelled after the Canadian system. Others
>are very opposed to it. Do you have similar problems with your
>National Health System, as we do with the HMOs, or do you think
>it generally provides well for your health care needs? I think
>many of us in the U.S. would be interested to hear about your
>experiences.

I echo the sentiments of Barb Rager on this question.

I would like to add that during the recent American debate over the
Clintons' plans to reform U.S. health care there was a tremendous amount of
misinformation about the Canadian system thrown up by both advocates and
opponents of a national health service.

I truly believe in the concept of the 'common good' and cannot for the life
of me understand how Americans can tolerate millions of their
fellow-citizens in jeopardy because of inability to obtain basic health
care.

In the 1950s and 60s Canada established a fine universal health care system.
The crisis over economics (deficits and debt)and the political values
articulated by American and British establishments in the 1980s (yes, Ronald
Reagan and Margaret Thatcher), has given our politicians the opportunity to
cut back and seriously wound out system.

Canada's health care system is at a crisis point in so many ways --  doctors
and nurses fleeing to high paying U.S. hospital jobs, privitization and
contracting out, early retirements and spreading services wider among fewer
people, etc. etc. -- are all undermining out system. Health reform has gone
off the rails in many provinces, especially here in Nova Scotia where
hospital bed closure was to have been accompanied by real home care, but was
not delivered.

The people working in Canada's health care system are performing heroically,
but I fear that the breaking point is coming in the system.

Fortunately governments in Canada are beginning to reinvest in Canadian
health care.

The 'bottom line' for me as a human being is that everyone should have a
common and free access to decent health care. It may not be all that money
can buy, but I certainly disagree with those in Canada who argue that we
should follow the U.S. model and let people with money buy health services
ahead of those who can't afford it or jump the queue.

That being said, I have to add in fairness that the U.S. health care system
is like anything else in this world made up of good and bad elements. When
Moira and I travelled to Loma Linda in California for her bilateral
pallidotomy, we saw the good and the bad of U.S. health care up close --
highly talented health care specialists (Dr Iacono and his team) and the
bar-coded inventory of every conceivable consumable item (all of which ends
up on a five page single-spaced itemized bill).

Linda asked for some reactions from Canadians. I am just one and have made
some 'political' statements in replying. In defence I can only remind my
American friends that democracy and equality go hand in hand, in my opinion,
and a health care system should be founded solidly on both ideas.

I am hesitating sending this because the providing of health care services
is so political and the Parkinsn list should not get side-tracked from its
eminent and important role as the world's biggest Parkinson support group.
But it's going anyway...what the heck, all of the debate over the Udall bill
funding is political too!

TTFN
Peter


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Peter Kidd
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URL: http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~aa163/peterkidd.html