U.S. president Obama has begun the process of revamping the U.S. sistema ng pangangalaga ng kalusugan, na may layunin ng pagbibigay ng health insurance para sa mga milyon-milyong mga uninsured Amerikano — a goal that, hindi bababa sa teorya, Canada ay na nakamit. Ayon sa Health 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.

Gayunman, 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. Bilang CBC iniulat, “Long waits for diagnostic tests, access to specialists and some surgeries katagal naging at the heart of complaints about the failings of Canada’s health-care system.”

Kaya what’s a country to do?

Gawin ang Pranses gawin, sabi ni Globe at Mail tagapamahala Lysiane Gagnon:

Sa 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. Sa 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.

Paminsan-minsan, kahit na, my French friends do complain about their health-care system. They say it has deteriorated. Isang kaibigan, halimbawa, 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 ay Walang. 1, habang Canada ay ika-30 at ang U.S. 37ika.

If you’re bago sa Canada, and you’re trying to decipher the Canadian health care system, tingnan ang comparison of international health care systems pati na rin ang Health Canada website.

Larawan © Carolyn B. Heller