Jan 26 2009
Healthcare, Canada Style
I’m glad we have decent healthcare in Canada, even though I despise making use of it.
I’m sitting here in the outpatients waiting area of my local hospital, where I’ve already been for half an hour. In that time, I’ve provided my name, confirmed my address, had a wrist band attached (similar to amusement parks - sadly, the wait can be just as long but the fun is usually much, much less) and been told to have a seat.
Currently, due to various circumstances, my family is one of the bottom feeders in the health care system, with no insurance to cover us at all. I still have access to hospitals and doctors and I don’t think I’ll be turned anyway by the support staff with torches and pitchforks, although looking around the busy room and seeing many people that I know just have the flu or a cold, maybe that wouldn’t be all bad.
What’s interesting here is that there is no separate room or shorter lines for those that have insurance. We’re all in the same boat, so to speak - the HMCS Sit There and Wait. For more serious ailments, there are ways to get service quicker if you have the money, but for your average, run of the mill complaints you make an appointment with your doctor (if you have one) or go to the hospital and wait in line.
I don’t know if lines are longer now then they were a few years ago, but I do know that there always seems to be a shortage of doctors. Not only does it mean whoever is working outpatients on a given day is likely to be swamped, but it means that if you move into a small town, your chances of getting a family doctor are slim and none.
It puts into perspective how bad it must be in some other countries. I know Canada doesn’t have the best medical system in the world, but it’s one of the best - warts and all. There is plenty of room for improvement, but to think that it could be worse, a whole lot worse, makes one appreciate what we have. In a couple of hours or so, I’ll have seen the doctor, gotten any necessary prescriptions (generic brand or whatever is least expensive for us, I’m sure) and be home again. It’s not perfect, but I’m glad it’s as good as it is.
