That "tedious and tiresome propaganda"

The Conservatives, sadly, will not dare raise the issue of greater private sector involvement in health care:

Politicians who shy away from discussing health care on the campaign trail do so at their peril, Canada's top doctor warned yesterday.

Brian Day, outgoing president of the Canadian Medical Association, said doctors are frustrated by the lack of meaningful public policy discussion on health and vowed they will make their presence felt during the next federal election campaign.

[...]

Dr. Day also bemoaned the fact that there is a reluctance to discuss and debate these issues publicly. "The private-public rhetoric on health care is a relic of tedious and tiresome propaganda. Those who argue against and demonize the private sector need a reality check," he said...

Frankly, I'm scared out my pants by the fact that companies making profits are actually allowed to supply the scalpels, MRI, CT scan and X-ray machines, operating theatre lighting, and computers used in our hospitals. Time for a government takeover of the medical supply industry!

The new CMA president, for his part, is taking up the good fight, much good that will do in the short term (outside of Quebec, and maybe B.C. to some extent):

The natural next step for Canada's health system is allowing more private delivery, which will give patients more choice, and better access to care, the new president of the Canadian Medical Association says.

"My whole career has been about resolving access issues. This is my battle horse," said Robert Ouellet, who takes over today as president of the CMA.

"Private delivery is an accepted practice everywhere in the world and it's time Canada accepted this reality."

A radiologist by training, Dr. Ouellet, 62, owns and operates five medical imaging clinics in suburban Montreal. He is an unabashed promoter of private-sector delivery of medical care and keen to introduce more competition into Canada's health-care system, and he knows this will make him a lightning rod for criticism...

Here's just one good reason for greater private sector involvement--and yes, I think people should be able to buy private health insurance to supplement the single-payer system:

[Dr. Ouellet] stumbled into private practice. As head of radiology at the hospital, he was pushing for a CT scanner but was told that it would take between two and three years for the government to process the request.

Outraged, Dr. Ouellet and others in the department bought the CT scanner and contracted their services to the hospital. The workers compensation board and provincial automobile insurance board also signed contracts.

"Rather than wait six months for a scan at a hospital, we provided them in a couple of days," Dr. Ouellet said. It took five years for the hospital to get a CT scanner, which speaks volumes, he said.

Later, Dr. Ouellet and colleagues opened an axial tomography clinic, an MRI clinic and two diagnostic radiology clinics, all private.

Much of their business comes from the publicly funded system, but patients can pay themselves or use private insurance.

Each clinic has a price list at the door, as required by law. At the MRI clinic, it reads: "Brain $650. Pelvis $735, Hip (each) $650."..

Mark C.

Posted by markc at August 20, 2008 06:14 PM