Reply #56: and a whole load of stuff to read ...

[iverglas]

here, about Canadian health care:

http://www.healthcoalition.ca

Remember -- this is critique of Canada's system from the left, as well as defences of Canada's system from that same perspective.

Basic stuff to read:

http://www.healthcoalition.ca/rc.html
For-Profit Hospitals and Clinics
Enforcement of the Canada Health Act
For-Profit MRI/CT Clinics
Medical Savings Accounts
Privatization of Health Care
Public-Private Partnerships
Shouldice Hernia Centre: A Model for Medicare?

And bookmark this one:

Myth Busters: Debunking Myths About Medicare
http://www.healthcoalition.ca/debunking-myths.html
(links to pdf documents with the info to debunk the myths, which are also prevalent in the US)

"For-profit ownership of facilities would lead to a more efficient health care system"
"The Aging Population will Overwhelm the Health Care System"
"Baby Boomers Will Bankrupt Medicare"
"User Fees would Stop Waste and Ensure Better Use of the Healthcare System"
"Medicare is not Workable"
"Medicare will be Protected in Trade Agreements"
"A Parallel Private System Would Reduce Waiting Times in the Public System"
"Health Care is Just another Commodity"
"For-Profit Health Care Would Improve Quality of Care"
"More Money Would Put an End to Emergency Room Crunches "
"For-Profit Health Care Would Lower Costs"
"Medicare is Bad for Business"
"Canadian Doctors are Leaving for the United States in Droves"
"High and Increasing Drug Prices are Needed to Sustain Research and Development"

and refer to it often ...