Our World

Canadian Health Care

We recently finished talking about the United States and Canada in class. One difference between these two North American countries is health care. Canada's health care system, unlike the United State's system, provides socialized health care to all citizens. This means that almost all Canadian citizens, no matter what their status, income, or medical history, qualify for coverage of primary physicians, hospital care, and dental care. At first, this sounds like an amazing system does it not? Imagine not having to pay health insurance.

However, I just read an article about the inefficiency of the Canadian health system. On October 4th, a woman miscarried after sitting 6 hours in the waiting room. She had to go through this horrific time in front of everyone else who was waiting there as well.

"The health region had promised to change the way it deals with women who are miscarrying after another miscarriage at the same hospital in July. Rick and Rose Lundy repeatedly asked for help but were told they'd have to wait for a bed. Rose Lundy eventually miscarried in front of more than 30 other waiting patients." (ctv.ca)

Even more shocking, this is the third such incident in three months! I think this puts into perspective the "long" twenty minute wait that is encountered once and a while here in the US. Thankfully, public officials have reacted with the same shock that I am feeling.

"This is shattering,'' Taft said in Edmonton. "This isn't happening in Afghanistan or some MASH unit --this is happening in the richest city in Canada. There's no excuse.'' (ctv.ca)
This difference in health care systems demonstrates how diverse two seemingly similar, (in developed-status, democracies, etc.), countries can be.

posted by Anonymous @ 10/05/2006 09:32:00 PM