its only gonna get worse with reduced funding and aging population. Alberta is planning to try something different in regards to getting foreign trained doctors into the system As for privatization that can't happen unless federal healthcare act is amended and that potentially can be challenged by charter of rights so very difficult thing to do. Right now there are some privatization of services like the MRI, you can pay i think $500 to get an MRI done in private clinic but thats not for everyone. Essential services (like life threatening)will never be privatized, elective surgeries can be and some have eg knee surgeries but one province cannot do it and no one is ready for a two tier health care system.
Alberta is trying out the new Primary care network and it seems to be working a little bit so lets see how that pans out. its unfortunate but for a system of this grand scale it will take time to change. I was involved with the core committee when Alberta Heart Institute got built for over $200 Million and group of us raised $2.4 Million to build the guru Nanak Dev Healing garden within AHI few years ago. AHI has helped the system quite a bit taking pressure away from other hospitals in the system.
But to your point, there is need for some privatization but people are not ready for it and it won’t be affordable. eg will someone pay $100000 for a knee replacement? or would they prefer to get it done for free? a kidney replacement for a visitor in canada without health care will cost upwards of $150K to $200K
gursikhphysio said:
I feel the health care system is overloaded and there is shortage of specialists in canada. There shoulde be some privitization of the health care system specially for consultations so that the patient don't have to wait for months to see a specialist.
