On realising sometimes how good you have it (healthcare)

[beardoc]

I attended a session today which was designed for Anaesthetic Fellows like myself who were about to finish their training, giving advice on all the sorts of things that you need to get organised when you qualify, going into practice

Comments

[furr_a_bruin]

It's enough to make any sane, rational individual scream. One thing that especially angered me was all the absolute lies being told about health care in other nations that have various ways of covering everyone. Maybe what we need is a multinational delegation - Australian, Canadian, New Zealander, British and Irish. Given the level of xenophobia in this country, I think sticking to English-speaking nations might be wise, though it would certainly be useful to hear from other European countries as well - especially (IMO) the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway and that hotbed of socialism, Sweden. ;)

The thing is - universal coverage would cost us less - thanks in part to bigots at one time leaving people of the "wrong color" to die on the doorstep of an emergency room - we have laws that mandate anyone in crisis MUST be seen, which have led to desperate people misusing ERs. It would be so much cheaper to have someone with (for example) asthma get care in a less expensive setting - and the medication that would prevent those ER visits.

But that would be compassionate, rational and sane.

[beardoc]

Preventative healthcare is much cheaper in the long run - but, well, there's politics.

But even then, with suboptimal healthcare, it's better than what these people in PNG or the Oceanic islands have.