Canada’s health system is getting a bashing in the United States right now, as the Barack Obama administration comes under fire for its plans to try and ensure that all Americans have some health insurance.

Of course, the spectre of Canada-style “socialism’ has crept into the debate, making it a typical American political debate where the level of shouting often exceeds the information made available.

Is Canada’s system far worse than the U.S. system? It all depends on your point of view.

In Canada, virtually everyone has medical coverage. If they are sick, they can see a doctor. If they need hospital care, it can usually be obtained—but sometimes there is a considerable waiting period, which can lead to complications and, in the worst cases, early death.

There are enough doctors in Canada, but there aren’t enough hospital beds in the fastest-growing regions—the Lower Mainland being one of those. Waits at emergency wards can often be long, although some procedures have been brought in to ensure those most in need of attention get it more quickly.

The health system in B.C. is consuming more and more of the provincial budget each year. There continue to be some severe inefficiencies, despite the establishment of health regions. There also seem to be an inordinate amount of bureaucrats involved in varying and sometimes mind-numbing levels of administration.

In the U.S., many working and self-employed people have health insurance, which costs both them and their employers a lot of money. Health care provided to them is most often at a for-profit medical centre.

Most retired and unemployed people are covered by the U.S. Medicare system, which provides health care in a limited number of facilities. Most other Americans must pay for their health care out of their own pockets, and in some cases this leads to bankruptcy.

Our system is too bureaucratic, although it works well for the most part. Their system is too profit-oriented and leaves out far too many people.

Some sort of happy medium in both countries could be the best option.

– Langley Times (Black Press)