United States Needs Single-Payer Health Care System
Nov 07, 2007
Washington (6 Nov. 2007) - Time has validated Canada’s publicly-funded national health care system and the United States should move toward a similar system, says James Clancy, president of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).
Speaking to an American group called Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), Clancy said only a small minority of people in Canada favour private health care solutions such as private insurance, user fees, medical savings accounts and parallel for-profit care.
"The vast majority of Canadians have repeatedly said No to these proposals, because the principles on which these proposals rest cannot be reconciled with the values at the heart of our medicare," Clancy said.
"The opponents of our single-payer system claim it’s a perversion of Canadian values that they can’t use their own money to purchase faster treatment from a private for-profit provider," he added.
"But the consensus view of Canadians on this issue is clear: It’s a far greater perversion of Canadian values to accept a system where money, rather than need, determines who gets access to health care."
Medicare defines Canada
Clancy said medicare defines the values of Canada. "Sickness doesn’t discriminate. And in Canada we’ve made the collective decision that health care shouldn’t discriminate either," he said.
"Overwhelmingly, Canadians strongly support the core values on which our system is premised: equality, compassion and social solidarity. In fact, our medicare system is now tied to our understanding of citizenship – more than a social program, medicare to us represents a birthright and an identifying mark of Canadian-ness."
On five occasions since national public health care was established in Canada more than 40 years ago, the system has been reviewed by high-profile political and judicial leaders, he noted. "All came to the same conclusion: single-payer, publicly-funded health care is more equitable, more efficient and more effective," he said.
He acknowledged that problems, such as wait times, exist within the Canadian system but he said solutions also exist and will be far less costly to implement than in the U.S. Canada spends about 10% of GDP to finance its health care system, which covers all citizens. The U.S. spends roughly 15% of GDP yet leaves millions with no coverage at all, he noted.
Clancy said wait times are not caused by Canada’s single-payer system.
Health professionals
"The main source of the problem is something most countries around the world are experiencing: we’re facing a health human resources crisis," he argued.
"There’s a serious shortage of health professionals in Canada. They’re retiring in big numbers. And we’re just not recruiting and training enough new health professionals.
To be successful in reducing those waiting lines, we’re working with Canadian governments to invest in a national strategy that will lead to a greatly expanded workforce of health care professionals."
Clancy said the challenge is for groups such as NUPGE and PNHP to work together to bring "a single-payer system in the U.S." while continuing to defend and expand the system that exists in Canada.
"If we continue to fight with passion and conviction and hold out for what we want, we’ll do more than make a difference in health care. We’ll create a world of which we can all be truly proud. Working together – we can make that happen," he said. NUPGE
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I think there should be a single payer....but the government should pay private hospitals which will compete for our money. I still can't believe I can use my hard earned money to wreck my body , but can't use my money to fix it. Something is wrong with that
Jimcotton - 2007-11-10 17:35
In Flanders Fields by John McCrae, May 1915 In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. Inspiration for the Poem On 2 May, 1915, in the second week of fighting during the Second Battle of Ypres Lieutenant Alexis Helmer was killed by a German artillery shell. He was a friend of the Canadian military doctor Major John McCrae. It is believed that John began the draft for his famous poem 'In Flanders Fields' that evening. Thank you so much.
D - 2007-11-11 10:35
What does the preceeding message/poem have to do with the US health care system? Try to stay on topic, people. Anyway - US bad, Canada good. Nuff said.
kevin s - 2007-11-13 14:02