There has been a lot of discussion recently about "universal" health care and there have been some myths touted as facts and some misconceptions about the abilities of such a system to truly meet patient needs. I do not know if there is one single ideal system anywhere in the world.
What I want to do is open a discussion so that those who do not live with a universal or national health care system can ask questions about how such a system works. I am hopeful that this will start an international dialogue where you can see what does work and what does not work. I hope that out of such a dialogue, open honest and sharing we can all come away with ideas that might help fix the problems we have within our own systems.
Some of the statements about Universal health care I have seen include:-
1) Nursing wages are less within a Universal Health Care System
2) Taxation to pay for such a system will bankrupt the average employee
3) Research is unfunded and less
4) Waiting lists/wait times cause unneccessary deaths
5) The system will be abused with people demanding more because it is free
6) resources will be wasted on the undeserving
7) public health funding will suffer
Please make take this opportunity to explore health care across the world. Ask yourself - if I had the ability to wish into existance the ideal system what would work and what would be a waste of money??
"Universal Health Care" is socialized medicine pure and simple. Everywhere socialism is tried it's a failure, yet most politicians want to give you socialism while they enjoy capitalism.
Horsepoo. Universal health care works reasonably well. No system is perfect, and ours has it's share of troubles. But I would not trade ours wholesale for an American-style pay-as-you-go system anyday. Overall, and this is key, overall our system provides better care to a broader population. What I want to see is a so-called two-tiered system, one which combines aspects of both to improve access to coverage for all.
"Universal Health Care" is socialized medicine pure and simple. Everywhere socialism is tried it's a failure, yet most politicians want to give you socialism while they enjoy capitalism.
Horsepoo. Universal health care works reasonably well. No system is perfect, and ours has it's share of troubles. But I would not trade ours wholesale for an American-style pay-as-you-go system anyday. Overall, and this is key, overall our system provides better care to a broader population. What I want to see is a so-called two-tiered system, one which combines aspects of both to improve access to coverage for all.
Personally I would be fine with having a two tiered, private-public system like in the UK or Australia, but because of NAFTA we would wind up with an American system if we ever open up privatization here. And once we privatize, there is no going back.
Personally I would be fine with having a two tiered, private-public system like in the UK or Australia, but because of NAFTA we would wind up with an American system if we ever open up privatization here. And once we privatize, there is no going back.
epg_pei
277 Posts
Horsepoo. Universal health care works reasonably well. No system is perfect, and ours has it's share of troubles. But I would not trade ours wholesale for an American-style pay-as-you-go system anyday. Overall, and this is key, overall our system provides better care to a broader population. What I want to see is a so-called two-tiered system, one which combines aspects of both to improve access to coverage for all.
But then I am a card-carrying socialist, so...
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