Canadian Health Care

There is a concerted effort in the US to establish a health care system which combines private health care and publicly funded health care. In some ads, the Canadian public health system is villified with "facts" which are not accurate. I will be the first to admit that our system has its problems but patients in urgent need do get timely care and their families are not financially devastated by that care.

That being said, the real truth about health care in Canada is that a private system has always co-existed with the public one. There has always been an option to pay a fee for access to private clinics, private diagnostic facilities and private surgical services. It is a business which exists within its own world and much of the general public remains completely unaware that a dual system exists.

I have worked within both of these health care options in Canada. Each has its strengths and its weaknesses. The future of health care will be a blend of the two and it remains to be seen if the mix will create a better system or weaken the one that is already in place. Holding health care institutions and providers accountable will ensure that patients will not have to pay a high price along the way.