Health Care

 

I realize this post is long and has required several google searches to hopefully get the information correct. I am trying to make sense of what is going on in the Canadian Health system. I continually hear stories of people that are waiting, being neglected or simply not getting care. If you have had great health care services when you need it, I am so glad for you. That is the way I believe it should be. I know that everyone that works in healthcare is overworked, overwhelmed and understaffed. I hope we can see a change soon, for the people that need healthcare and the ones that are providing it.   

The Canada Health Act is a federal law that ensures universal health care for Canadians. It was enacted in 1984 to replace the two previous acts. It has 5 criteria and conditions for health plans and funds are provided to meet the criteria. An insured person is a resident of a province or territory. Most provinces require 183 days of physical presence in the province to be entitled to services. Immigrants and people moving to a new province, are required to live in a province for 3 months before applying for health care coverage. 

In Manitoba the budget for health care in 2023 is 7.9 billion, this is an increase of 668 million from 2022. Saskatchewan has budgeted 6.9 billion which is an increase of 443 million. Alberta's budget is 24.5 billion.  

My google search didn't provide me with the information as what the daily cost of staying in a Manitoba hospital would be. So, I will use Vancouver General Hospital for my example. A visit to ER at that hospital is $805, daily ward cost is $3760 unless you are on the Woman's or Children's wards and then it is $7,133. It costs $14,535 each day to stay in ICU. 

We always refer to our health care as "free". I never give it a thought when I go to the Doctor or have a blood test of what that cost may be. I once witnessed a man pay $234 for blood tests. Clearly, he had not been in the country long enough to get health coverage. I think nothing of paying the fee that goes with seeing an optometrist, dentist, chiropractor or other people that help with my health. 

Staying in a hospital is free until you are assessed as a long-term care client and then you are expected to pay a monthly fee. You are also required to pay for the cost of your own medications, clothing and other hygiene products. Even if you are in a hospital bed as a respite or long-term patient, you will pay. 

Procedures and tests in Canada are free. Waiting for those tests can be a long wait. It seems if you are an inpatient, you have a more efficient chance of getting a test. Being referred by a doctor can certainly take several months. The word "urgent" does not mean you will get it done in a timely fashion. I am not even sure where "emergent" now falls on the list.  

In Manitoba and I feel probably anywhere in Canada, especially in the larger centers, the situation for people receiving care in an emergency room as an outpatient will take several hours. People are leaving the emergency department after many hours without being seen. Improving health care was a big item in the Manitoba election. The NDP are now in power, and they are focusing on opening 3 more ERs in Winnipeg and getting more staff to work in the hospitals. I'm not sure how they are ever going to do that, but I do hope they are successful. Currently, per capita, Manitoba is second overall in Canada for the lowest number of Doctors and the lowest province for family doctors. 

In my humble opinion, the one thing that Brandon really needs is an Urgent Care. That makes sense to me that it would lessen the demands on the ER and people would be served more quickly. I feel that such a place could be run by Nurse Practitioners. A NP is a registered nurse with advanced university education who provides personalized quality health care to patients. They work under the doctors but can diagnose, treat and monitor their patients. Their approach is different, and they offer great assessment skills and the ability to make a health plan with their clients. Maybe I have my rose-colored glasses on thinking this is a good idea.  

I had a conversation with a former colleague, and she said the system is so broken, she wouldn't even know how to start to fix it. She is someone that I feel has her finger on the pulse of what needs to be done regarding health care. The discouragement in her voice was hard for me to grasp, she is someone I always look to for an answer.  

I keep hearing the line, "the system is so broken". How can we put our faith in a broken system. Even though I spent most of my life working in medicine, I like to consider all my options when it comes to health issues. I have found the world of alternative medicine fascinating. I am not big on any prescription, especially the big guns like prednisone and statins. As I age, I realize the window of managing my own medication regime is closing, but for now I am managing nicely. There are so many people who are dependent on the health care system and it is hard for me to imagine what they are going through.

With a broken system, how do you get an appointment to see a doctor, that you don't have and are already overworked and overwhelmed. A recent report stated that in Manitoba, 150,000 residents have no family doctor. The waiting is huge, first on the appointment to see your own doctor. The next wait is for specialized tests if required. That is followed up by waiting on a specialist or a surgeon. Lastly, the wait may be to get a surgical date. This equates out to months and months of suffering. 

It seems the US is light years ahead of what they can provide for health care. I am not sure how the process happens, but the care is superior. I know when people visiting the states have a medical emergency it is profound how quick and advanced the care is that they receive. I realize there is a huge price tag goes with it and they are quick to send them back to Canada, but care has been provided.  

I had a very interesting conversation with my cousin who is married to an American. He said they have lots of family conversations about health care. He said in the states everyone gets a bill and as long as you pay something on that bill, the care continues.  

In the US, Healthcare is provided by private sector healthcare facilities and other programs. It is the only developed country without a universal healthcare and a significant proportion of the population lacks health insurance. The government funds two kinds of health plans: Medicare and Medicaid which are designed for elderly, disabled, poor and young. Many Americans get their healthcare paid by their employer. The Affordable Care Act or Obamacare was made a law in March 2010, which is aimed to make health care more affordable and accessible to their citizens. 

As I write this, I am so thankful I do not currently require any healthcare services. I feel we have gotten so compliance and accept the fact the waits are long and there is nothing we can do about it. Canada needs 445 more doctors. I love being a Canadian, but I am starting to really think about what we say is, "our free healthcare system".