Yukon Jay - 小祥

The Fist Ministers' Meeting

Okay I need to vent because I'm getting really frustrated waiting for my surgery and healthcare has been in the news nonstop.

Recalling my blog from a few months ago about the Canadian election, it turns out that the Liberals were re-elected. In the campaign the Liberals promised more money to improve our free ailing healthcare system. Now that they are re-elected, this is the week the federal government meet with all 10 premieres from the provinces to discuss this. The federal government have proposed to contribute $12 billion in the next 6 years and additional $4 billion to reduce the wait list.

The federal and provincial government really need to come up with plan to reduce surgery wait list, increase more beds, but overall improve on the efficiency of our system while at the same time make all these essential services free. From my experience in Cambodia, I think I have certainly taken the Canadian healthcare system for granted. I can't remember the last time I had to pay when I went and saw a doctory. Wait.... of course I can! It was when I lived in Texas...

Today I was with my TA to discuss my possible internship with him in Cuba... he just happens to be doing his PhD there on the geography of health in developing countries. He explained that healthcare has essentially become a business. It's all about money i.e. how much are medical supplies, who has insurance & who can pay. Healthcare, however, should be a human right available for every global citizen, no matter where they are in the the social spectrum. This is why this week the federal and provincial governments must come to an agreement so we can overcome this deadlock.

Right now I'm still waiting for my surgeon to call me....