Posted on: 03-03-04 11:54:41
I've been fortunate enough not to have had too many emergency visits. On the couple that I've had so far, I was quite happy with the service. There was a long wait for both (about 4 hour average), but I understood the reasons for that.
I personally have heard of 3 cases where people were extremely happy with the healthcare here. But against that, I've heard from about 20 people who aren't happy at all, firstly because they blame the socialized healthcare for high taxes, and secondly because there are such long wait times. I know of one problem myself, it is extremely difficult to get a family doctor of your choice, they're allbooked with more than enough patients already.
I certainly wouldn't call Canada's healthcare topnotch and there is a lot of room for improvement, no doubt. Most people will agree though that its not a problem with the professionals themselves (which is much harder to fix), the issue lies within the infrastructure of the system (whether it be funding or what have you).
But I don't think its that bad either, and I certainly appreciate the fact that its available to me whether I have a job or not. I'd personally give it a 6 out of a 10. But then, this is such a subjective issue.
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Quote:
Orginally posted by BlueLobster
But I don't think its that bad either, and I certainly appreciate the fact that its available to me whether I have a job or not. .
Very rightly said......but that seems to be the only good thing about the whole system.
However, come to think of that, even that good is not so good when you know that unemployement even at today's high is less than 8%, which means it is good for only those people. However, we are talking about unemployed, which is a temporary thing and not a permanent or long term. If during that period that unemployed person is able to feed himself, shelter himself, (fixed expenses) health expenses is just one CONTINGENT cost. That could be covered either by previous savings, or insurance that was bought when one was employed and healthy!
And when we are discussing this problem in this CD forum, I assume whoever (or atleast MOST of us) migrated to Canada, had enough financial resources back home to afford private/public medical health - so it is definitely very bad for them here. Yes if we talk about villages etc. it might be better, but then, we immigrants have not come from villages directly, and secondly, the remote areas in Canada have exremely pathetic medical facilities I am told.
I for one would prefer a system where health cost is subsidized, but not free (so that it is not misused) but it available at full cost if someone needs it faster than others and can afford it .
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Chandresh
Advice is free – lessons I charge for!!
Canadian Government it talking about its free (but useless) health care system. We do have free health-care systems in India. That includes drugs also.
I haven't seen many parts of India, but in Gujarat I have seen it closely.
Every taluka (Tehsil) level city has got hospitals with good medical facilities and with majority of specialists doctos. Almost all villages of a size of 5000 or heigher got a resident doctor (MBBS). (and now all villages are connected with a huge road-network, so for other small village it should be less than 15 kms travel to get medical treatment)
All major hospitals in bigger cities with Medical Colleges have huge campuses, modern operation theators and tons of Doctors (and to be doctors) serving poors of our contry. All this is FREE!
After collecting so much money in taxes and with such a low population, it is big wonder why this country is not able to serve the people the way it should?
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A Proud Indian Canadian
Quote:
Orginally posted by Garvo Gujarati
Canadian Government it talking about its free (but useless) health care system.
I agree that with the amount of taxes we pay, even one negative incident is one too many. However, useless is too strong a word to use isnt it? Especially when two of us say that we are more or less happy with the services we receive ?
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It could be a heavy word for some, but a right word for others.
May be I can replace it with ineffective?
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A Proud Indian Canadian
Quote:
Orginally posted by Garvo Gujarati
It could be a heavy word for some, but a right word for others.
May be I can replace it with ineffective?
I agree with both your statements
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Quote:
I for one would prefer a system where health cost is subsidized, but not free (so that it is not misused) but it available at full cost if someone needs it faster than others and can afford it .
Ok, how about making this discussion EVEN more productive this time around? If you're unhappy with healthcare, what in your opinion can be done about it? Let's target specific problems and try to think of solutions. And in as much detail as possible please.
e.g.
Problem \
Crowded emergency waiting rooms and Long wait-times.
Solution
a) Charge a nominal fee so that people who don't have real emergencies won't crowd the waiting rooms. (Elaborate on what you think the amount should be, while bearing in mind people who may not be able to afford this.)
I'm eager to see what we come up with. Maybe we can assimilate the ideas later on and write the Ministry of health a letter (cc'd to publications like the Toronto Star Tabloid, CBC et al.). May not alter the course of history, but we may nudge the first piece of the domino that will.
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