Western Exposure

Mythbusting Canada’s health-care system

By July 21, 2009March 19th, 2015No Comments

The Seattle Times ran a piece today by Susan Taylor Martin of the St. Petersburg (FL) Times, with an assist by Seattle Times staff, delving into myths about the Canadian health-care system. It’s true that Canadians wait a long time for non-emergency care, including, for instance, surgery for a painful back condition. But everyone gets care. And it’s not socialized medicine: Most doctors do not work for the government, and private insurance companies continue to be involved in the health-care market. Hospitals are non-profits. And people can choose their own doctors — but there is a shortage because the government misread demographic trends and held down enrollments at medical schools.

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