Time to bash the Canadian health system again: "Canadians Face Long Waits

[GreenPartyVoter]

for Health Care"

(Wonder why this is coming up just now?)

TORONTO - A letter from the Moncton Hospital to a New Brunswick heart patient in need of an electrocardiogram said the appointment would be in three months. It added: "If the person named on this computer-generated letter is deceased, please accept our sincere apologies."

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The patient wasn't dead, according to the doctor who showed the letter to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. But there are many Canadians who claim the long wait for the test and the frigid formality of the letter are indicative of a health system badly in need of emergency care.

Americans who flock to Canada for cheap flu shots often come away impressed at the free and first-class medical care available to Canadians, rich or poor. But tell that to hospital administrators constantly having to cut staff for lack of funds, or to the mother whose teenager was advised she would have to wait up to three years for surgery to repair a torn knee ligament.

"It's like somebody's telling you that you can buy this car, and you've paid for the car, but you can't have it right now," said Jane Pelton. Rather than leave daughter Emily in pain and a knee brace, the Ottawa family opted to pay $3,300 for arthroscopic surgery at a private clinic in Vancouver, with no help from the government.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050319/ap_on_he_me/canada_wait_your_turn

[Maple]

1. Canadian taxpayers federation

is very annoyed with Harper and our rightwing who are attempting a move more towards the middle.

So they start the noise machine up again.

[Citizen Kang]

2. Yeah but,

How many Canadians are forced into bankruptcy because they can't afford health insurance and something catastrophic happens?

[firefox]

4. Canada 6% GDP for all, US 16% GDP for some n/t

[Siyahamba]

5. Yes, if Canada put 16% GDP into its system

It would be amazing.

[Hand]

3. It's not "free"...

Which doesn't bother me a damn bit. Health care is financed by taxes or some kind of annual assessment, which is still a darn sight better than the alternatives. I can live with a 15% sales tax a lot easier than I can with the prospect of bankruptcy from medical bills.

:hi:

[GreenPoet64]

6. A wait or ????

No healthcare at all? I'll wait.