The Written Word: Rafe Mair July 17th

Tuesday, July 17, 2007 03:45 AM

Let’s talk a bit about health care. One of the five principles of the Canada Health Act is universal and comprehensive meaning that all Canadians are entitled to health care. Another principle is, broadly stated, that your medical services will be paid by medicare and that, in fact, you can’t go outside the system.

I am 75 and while not rich, have some savings to carry Wendy and me if I ever retire. I have two grossly arthritic knees. Can I simply take my cheque book to the orthopedic surgeon of my choice and get my knees replaced?

Not a chance. I must wait in line. It would not be right, you see, for someone who could dip into savings to get an operation be able to do so. This is a job for medicare. But what if I’m a policeman, a serviceman or a Vancouver Canuck? What about an injured worker? They all get private service because, somehow, their needs are seen by our government as special. Somehow these people are a cut above the rest of us. This leads to this curious result. If a worker, at work, falls off a ladder and breaks a leg he is, right now, into a specialist’s hands and given prompt service so that he can get into the workforce. He’s a very valuable member of society, you see. But is he? For if he falls off a ladder and breaks a leg at home, he suddenly becomes like the rest of us. His status as a special person depends upon where he got hurt.

I have only one functioning eye and a cataract forming on the other. Here, for reasons beyond sensible explanation, I can either get in the lineup or have it done privately!

I cannot contract privately with a doctor but I must pay the majority of my medicines out of my own pocket. Indeed over 70% of my medical expenses I must pay for privately. That’s universality? That’s comprehensiveness?

I also have a bad back (which would easily justify back surgery). If I go that route, all my medical costs will come out of medicare. If, however, I see a chiropractor from time to time and get relief, thus avoiding the cost of surgery, I must pay for that treatment from my own pocket! In other words there’s a disincentive for me to use preventive methods.

I’m also diabetic (I’m starting to sound like the Tin Woodman in the Wizard of Oz!). One of the dangers of diabetes is that circulation to the lower legs is common. A sensible person will go to a podiatrist from time to time, and have the lower legs checked and then do the prescribed things. If I do that, I must pay my podiatrist out my own pocket. If, however, I just laze along and do nothing about those tingling toes and unpleasant ulcers thus must have a leg amputated, the operation is paid for out of medicare!

Our health care system may be a lot of things but it sure as hell ain’t universal or comprehensive!

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Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 03:45 AM in Views by Rafe Mair

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Comments

Posted by: Andyfreeze on July 17 2007 8:34 AM

Nothing to argue with there Rafe!
This is something we are all going deal with sooner or later within our health care system.
The truly amazing thing is why canadians continue to tolerate it!
It is especially bad here in B.C.
Unfortunately,it is something that we never think about much until we actually need it.
Where we live has also has a lot to do with the kind of care we get as well.If the B.C.government had it's way,we would all be traveling to major centers like Vancouver and if we are not careful,that's exactly what will happen.
The examples the government uses to impress us come from the lower mainland,not here in the north, where healthcare is a mess!
Watching George(Bobblehead)Abbott on the news last night made me realize,again, just how much spin and smoke the government really uses to get us to believe that all is well within the healthcare system.
And it also made me realize just how much these political wonderboys pump into the lower mainland and prefered areas like Kelowna.
It really IS all about votes.
Here in the north,we get the dregs.
This guy talks so much when asked a question,that I am sure he himself has no idea what he is blabbering about or what he said!
I firmly believe he is a big part of the problems with the healthcare system.
He just doesn't get it!
Wait times are not getting better.They are getting worse, and will continue to do so.
Unless of course you are somebody special and can go to the head of the list.
Have you ever seen a politician with a serious health issue wait for surgery etc?
And care for the elderly is a disgrace.
Let's face it,it is much cheaper for the government if we die and I am sure they would rather we did that.
We need an election and healthcare should be a major issue.

Posted by: ammonra on July 17 2007 9:49 AM

The underfunding of health care in BC (and Canada in general) is a long term affair, going back to the days when Rafe Mair was in government as a minister helping to set policy. The major attacks on it started under Bill Bennet and continued through Van Der Zalm. The NDP did its best, but they still did not put enough money into the system, and Campbell is carrying out a deliberate and concerted attack on it to justify using for-profit services to replace those currently in use. See an example in the article at: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/07/17/bc-maximus.html

We constantly hear the mantra "money isn't the only answer to the problems", but it sure as hell is one of the answers, and it is probably the most important of the answers. One of the major problems is that those in control of the system do not believe in public health care and would prefer a, so called, "private" system.

Health care is expensive, for sure, but it still only takes about 8% of the gross provincial product in BC. In the US they spend about 16%, or more, of their GDP. It is true that their system is faster, but they also have twice Canada's population without health services because they can't afford it and don't have insurance.

Years ago, when about 9% of the GPP was spent on the health care system our services were reasonable. We could return our system to that state if the funding were increased back to that amount or somewhat better. If it were increased to 10% of the GPP, BC would have a health care system that would be the best in the world. We are not too far from it now. We certainly have the expertise in Canada, but the wait times, the slow deterioration of the infrastructure and insufficient training programs for health care workers interfere.

Posted by: Palopu on July 18 2007 9:35 PM

High paid Doctors, High paid Nurses and Unions Workers, High Cost of Equipment, High Cost Government, these are all part of the problem of a high cost inefficient health care system.

People wait for blood tests, in emergency rooms, and have long waits for surgery, and at best complain to their spouses, but they do nothing about the problem.

Most people in BC could not tell you what it costs for a procedure because this information is not readily available. They are herded around like cattle, and all they do is Mooo.

Everyone working in the Health Care system is living off of taxpayers dollars. These people have a responsibility to provide the services that we pay taxes for, however because of the way the system works, its their salaries, expenses, and needs that come first, and the taxpayers get the dregs. Whats new?

Posted by: netsurfer on July 18 2007 9:43 PM

Your right Palopu the main part of the health care problems are indeed the exoribant wages paid to the nurses and virtually all of the other health care personell but, most particularly, the lab techs. Even worse their work ethic is dismal. But if we think these wage levels are out of line take a look at administration and be prepared for a shock.

Posted by: diplomat on July 19 2007 1:40 PM

"We constantly hear the mantra "money isn't the only answer to the problems", but it sure as hell is one of the answers, and it is probably the most important of the answers."

Sure. I couldn't disagree more. On my GP's office door there is a sign that says: Dr. X. XXXX, Inc.

Is that Inc. a non-profit corporation? I fairly doubt it.

Where did the NDP get this non-profit mantra anyways? Most people ought to know by now that it is a fuzzification of facts.

Palopu is right on track, in my opinion.