UNBC's official student print vol.3 Issue2 4 October 2,, 1996 by Jason Morris Canada is frequently cited as the envy of the world for its health care system. In essence, Canada’s Medicare is a government-run insurance plan that uses public funds to pay for a private system. Patients choose doctors who are paid by provincial plans on a fee- for-service basis. Today, Medicare is Canada’s most popular social program. Yet while it was not until 1971 that all provinces had Medicare, the system already shows signs of sickness. The onus is on university students to find a way to save Canada’s universal health program or . reshape it into something new. The root of the health problem is money. Canada no longer seems able to afford its generous health care system. As evidence, consider cutbacks in staff and support services, bed closures, outdated medical equipment, and decreasing payments to physicians. The solution most frequently discussed is to introduce a second, private tier. Keep the existing publicly funded level, but allow those who want to pay for private medical services to do so. Opposition to this solution concerns the worry that a rich person could get better care than a poor person forced to rely on the public system. Of course though, every person opting out of the public system also reduces waiting lists that the poor sit in. The fear is also that the poor will eventually get no health care at all with the introduction of a private tier. In the United States, 34 million Americans have no Saving Health Saving Health Care for When We G for When We Graduate health care. However, poor Americans are covered by Medicaid, and much of the middle class and the rich have health insurance through employment plans or private insurance. The many Americans without health coverage have none because of their own choice. As well, Canadian doctors cannot refuse patients who have not paid their medical insurance premiums, even though they do not get paid for providing such services. Still, critics of a two-tier system maintain that doctors provide for the security, well- being and integrity of all Canadians. Thus their services should not be equated with consumer products that people buy for fun. Prime Minister Jean Chretien recently said that another tier is unacceptable because Canadians define _ Under the Covers s YOUR NEWS: FIX HERE! « Pageld A contest for artists! Full details within! r ¢ Page 5 - The editorial page proudly presents - the weather and John: McFetrick's ever quick pen! _ Page 6= Letters to the Editor! The debates on campus are raging hot - and those with something to ad are right here! ' Page 7 - Jason's latest “installation in the. Student Success Saga continues! Page 9 - The Womyn' s Centre is now writing a regular column! Find out © more about their activities inside! Page 10 - Dawna McLennan presents an argument for the ecology! Page 11 - A restaurant , Review?. Student : ] Discrimination? What's - the deal here? Pages 12-13 - Reviews! _CD Reviews! Movie Reviews! Page 14 --The ever handy, super powerful, all knowing calendar returns! Page 15 - MAD TREE! (‘nuff said’) :Webaholics’ The your co Next-Generation of Couch absolutel Patatoes themselves through their universal health care system. This is why provinces lose a dollar in federal transfer payments for every dollar they collect through user fees on health services. It is interesting though, that Canada already has a de facto two-tier system. Wealthy Canadians fly south and elsewhere for health care, often paying ten times as much for services considering the actual cost in Canada. Public servants get many health services and medications for free that self- employed Canadians must pay for. Members of Parliament and other top bureaucrats and officials can use the posh National Defence Medical Centre that is unavailable to others. As well, people in the North pay hundreds of dollars to travel for some treatments that people in the lower mainland can get within their own cities. The debate though, over whether to keep or add another tier, is far from over. In the meantime, efforts must be made to maintain quality see where thattink of care levels with less money. Governments must spend health care dollars .y more carefully, perhaps shifting their focus from treatment to prevention. Referenced-based pricing, in which governments look for the most effective and inexpensive drug to provide, is another way in which governments are hoping to save money. By-Doug Smith- Do youspend hours surfing the Internet? Is your~ppe x best-friend your computer? Gener Do you abrolutely-HAVE to— see where that-link Canadians too, must become more responsible. Fewer trips to the hospital emergency for minor problems, and practicing healthier living (such as by not smoking) could save the system money.