Coming Clean: Another Reason To Be Suspect Of Socialized Medicine And Remebering Grandfather
June 9, 2007
As the presidential candidates debate health care reform, there is ample evidence that socialized medicine won’t work. Even the much admired Canadian health care program loses some of it’s luster under close scrutiny.
Why? One word: SOAP.
I forgot how much missed my grandfather…then I saw this. Take a few minutes.
June 9, 2007 at 6:57 PM
What an absolutely wonderful video.
On the subject of soap, back in the days of summer jobs between school years I often worked at a nursing home as a recreational therapist assistant. Incidently my own grandfather lived there at the time.
One year the health region made the decision to switch the soap used by staff for hand washing from liquid to bar because it was less expensive. This mortified the staff as bar soap requires more diligence to kill germs, but the change went forward and even though the name of the health region has changed twice, the bar soap remains years later.
If I may: Here in Canada it takes me at least 3 1/2 weeks to book an appointment to see my GP for a routine prescription refill, 6 months to a year for an MRI and even longer if said MRI indicates I need to see a specialist. On top of that, nothing makes my GP happier than if I’m actually sick in a way that requires attention sooner than 3 1/2 weeks because then I have to go to out-patients where he can bill the taxpayer astronomically more than his office fee and instead of getting a small ski boat he’s able to buy a yacht.
Funnily enough he thinks privatized medicine would be very, very bad for the country.
He’s not stupid.
And the powers that be are petrified to get a grip on that lest all the doctors leave.
June 11, 2007 at 4:27 PM
I grew up in Canada also.
That’s where the Minister of Health is more important than the Minister of Defence.
Imagine what it would be like if they socialized car insurance, which should really be governed by the same ideas. The Minister of Car Insurance would also be more important than the Minister of Defence.
If we’d ever really privatize medicine, it’s cost would plummet.
June 11, 2007 at 5:28 PM
Car insurance is socialized in BC – and the rates are far, far lower than rates in privatized provinces (such as Nova Scotia). Check it out and see for yourself.
Also, I work as a billing agent for a physician and I can assure you that the outpatient fee, compared to the in office fee, is not much different (we’re talking a few dollars, that’s it). GP’s are not making millions, and they are doing out-patient hours not to get rich but to offer good service. You have to be a surgeon to get rich!
As for access to a GP, it really depends on your area. I have lived in a few places across Canada and, maybe I’ve just been lucky, but I’ve never had trouble either finding a GP through the provincial college or getting appointments with mine within a week. There are also loads of walk in clinics in every city I’ve lived in, where you can get same day service. I know there are underserved areas (ie rural Ontario) but overall I think the system works. It would work better if folks didn’t flock to the GP every time they have a minor cold or flu, and stayed out of the ER unless there is an actual emergency. But that is one of the prices of free health care – people feel welcome to use it.