Most people like free things! But some things are just too expensive to be free. The best example of that is our Canadian health care system.
People are facing doctor shortages and extended wait times for necessary surgeries and for care in emergency wards. While most are aware of ‘walk-in clinics,’ there is a lack of public knowledge that walk-in clinics can be the quicker option and a lot less expensive. Unfortunately, a wait can turn into months or longer just for a diagnosis, surgery or treatment, and that has resulted in unnecessary deaths. With an exorbitantly high population growth in Alberta, that in itself has become an emergency, along with shortages in medical staffing and simply just more people than the system can handle. Canada’s inflexible system of socialized medicine has also led to unsustainable costs.
Anyone who has experienced visiting an emergency ward over the years has likely noticed multiple ambulances parked outside and ambulance staff who are required to wait with a patient until a bed or doctor can relieve them. Not only does this add to the health care bill, but those ambulance services are held back from attending to more serious situations while they wait. Some statistics indicate that 14 per cent of Canadians show up to an emergency unit just to get prescriptions refilled.
Many Canadians become irate when the cost of our health care system is compared to other parts of the world. But let’s just consider the often-named comparison with our American friends, where a patient pays for the doctors, hospital time and surgeries if they don’t have an employee program or a personal health program. It is expensive, but it could be said they at least have a doctor while many Canadians do not.
We all know something has to change. People need a doctor when they need one, and in modern times, surgery should not be a two-year (or more) wait when someone is suffering. The problem is many Canadians object to a change in our system where they are asked to pay for some of their health care. All the while, government paid health care has become unsustainable. Other countries have been able to offer public health care along with private health care, but for some reason that seems impossible in Canada.
Any shortage of doctors in Canada is not due to a lack of medical schools. Studies indicate Canada has up to 17 publicly funded medical schools, but for some reason, the number of doctors they are allowed to train in a year is roughly 3,000.
Over the years, private clinics have faced much criticism from the larger population. Criticism appears primarily due to the idea that doctor shortages are because the system is catering to ‘those who can pay.’ As a result, when Canadians are interviewed on the topic of private health care, the highest number strongly disagree with others having that option. There is a perception they are falling through the cracks while those who can pay are subject to the best care. There is also a growing fear that Canada is moving towards incorporating the option of euthanasia as an alternative to waiting in pain.
This whole topic needs resolution and soon!