We Need Change

Talk about a 180 degree turn of events. Canada's doctors declare that change is needed in healthcare, only it's government healthcare that needs the change. "In other words, Ouellet believes there could be a role for private health-care delivery within the public system." Imagine that... medical professionals in a government healthcare system calling for change. Makes a person sort of wonder, doesn't it?

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Overhauling health-care system tops agenda at annual meeting of Canada's doctors
By Jennifer Graham (CP) –

SASKATOON — The incoming president of the Canadian Medical Association says this country's health-care system is sick and doctors need to develop a plan to cure it.

Dr. Anne Doig says patients are getting less than optimal care and she adds that physicians from across the country - who will gather in Saskatoon on Sunday for their annual meeting - recognize that changes must be made. "We all agree that the system is imploding, we all agree that things are more precarious than perhaps Canadians realize," Doing said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "We know that there must be change," she said. "We're all running flat out, we're all just trying to stay ahead of the immediate day-to-day demands."

The pitch for change at the conference is to start with a presentation from Dr. Robert Ouellet, the current president of the CMA, who has said there's a critical need to make Canada's health-care system patient-centred. He will present details from his fact-finding trip to Europe in January, where he met with health groups in England, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands and France.
His thoughts on the issue are already clear. Ouellet has been saying since his return that "a health-care revolution has passed us by," that it's possible to make wait lists disappear while maintaining universal coverage and "that competition should be welcomed, not feared." In other words, Ouellet believes there could be a role for private health-care delivery within the public system. (entire article at The Canadian Press)

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For even more info concerning the Canadian system, surf over to the Frugal Cafe Blog Zone. I note that some comments to the post are favorable to the Canadian system. I am sure that it is helpful to some, just as our system provides the healthcare needs of many. When the medical profession begins having second thoughts on the system, maybe we should pay a little attention to them. Just as we should listen to our own medical professionals in America concerning ideas for improvement.