Etats-Unis. president Obama has begun the process of revamping the U.S. health care system, dans le but de providing health insurance for the millions of uninsured Américains — a goal that, at least in theory, Le Canada a déjà atteint. Selon Santé Canada:

Canada’s national health insurance program, often referred to as “Medicare,” is designed to ensure that all residents have reasonable access to medically necessary hospital and physician services, on a prepaid basis.

Cependant, the most vexing aspect of the Canadian health care system — to newcomers and long-time residents alike — may be the often-lengthy wait times for services. Comme le Radio-Canada rapporté, “Long waits for diagnostic tests, access to specialists and some surgeries ont longtemps été at the heart of complaints about the failings of Canada’s health-care system.”

Alors what’s a country to do?

Faites comme le do français, dit Globe and Mail journaliste Lysiane Gagnon:

Au Canada, people keep exchanging horror tales about how long they had to wait in emergency wards or for an operation or even for a doctor’s appointment. It’s a common topic of conversation. En France, a country I know well, waiting times is a subject no one talks about, for the simple reason that people are cared for without delay.

De temps en temps, si, my French friends do complain about their health-care system. They say it has deteriorated. Un ami, par exemple, recently told me that “we no longer can call doctors at their home on the weekend, and house calls are difficult to get.” To a Canadian ear, this sounds like a description of paradise.

Gagnon cites World Health Organization statistics indicating that among the countries with the best overall health performance, France n'était. 1, tout Canada était le 30 et les Etats-Unis. 37e.

If you’re nouveau au Canada, and you’re trying to decipher the Canadian health care system, vérifier cette comparison of international health care systems ainsi que l' Health Canada website.

Photo © Carolyn B. Vrai démon