Health Care System Comparison: Canada vs US

One of the reasons why many people chose Canada is because of its excellent health care system. But is Canada's system better than that of the US?

Letter from Baby Daniel's Mother

Unlike in Canada, we don't have a reliable health care system here in the Philippines. Hospitalization for even a simple case is almost always a problem for most average income earners. Now imagine if you have a 5 months old baby who needs a liver transplant. That is exactly the case of Baby Daniel.

Once again, I apologize to my blog readers for cross posting this appeal from Baby Daniel's mother. I did this before for you Yuki and some of you helped. Please help Baby Daniel, too.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

My name is Ma. Clarisa Arevalo Samson. I am a mother of two, named Gwyneth Ann and George Daniel. For the meantime, we are living in my parent’s house located at Blk 8 Lot 43,Barangay San Rafael 1, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan,Philippines.

I wrote to you this letter to ask for financial help for our baby George Daniel. My son Daniel was born with a life threatening disease called “Biliary Atresia”. It is a congenital condition characterized by the absence or closure of the bile ducts that drain bile from the liver. Biliary Atresia is a progressive inflammatory process that begins very soon after birth. In Daniel’s case, he was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia when he was already 2 months old. During that time, there was already a significant amount of damage to his liver. White blood cells invaded the ducts, which became damaged or closed completely. Bile was trapped inside the liver and rapidly caused liver cirrhosis.

An operation called “Kasai Method” was done on Daniel by Surgeons Dra. Minas, Dr. Baluga and Dr. Miguel at the UST Hospital last June 10, 2009. It is an operation that removes the damaged biliary ducts outside the liver. Then, the small intestine is directly attached to the liver at the spot where bile is found or expected to drain. This procedure is not a cure but rather a temporary solution to be able to give Daniel some more time to find the necessary funding for his operation and the matching liver type. Unfortunately, although the operation was done, his liver continued to fail. Our doctors told us that there is no other course but to have a liver transplant.

Unfortunately, liver transplant is not yet available locally but it can be done in Taiwan for P3 million pesos. This amount is simply beyond the means of our family. If my son will not be able to have a liver transplant soon, he will die. All we want is to see our son live that’s why we are appealing to your charity and compassion.

Donations can be deposited to:

Bank of the Philippine Islands branch under the account name Ma. Clarisa A. Samson, S.A. No. 3536 0445 53. Every peso counts. Or you could visit Sis Leony's Blog : http://www.nikoganda.blogspot.com/
I beg you, please help us.

Thank you for your time in reading my letter and we are hoping for your kind help.
God Bless,

Ma. Clarisa Samson

Tel. Nos.: (+632) 393-0043, cellphone +63929-4984092, email mcba_clover0114@yahoo.com

Matthew 5 : 7-8 ‘Blessed are the merciful,for they will be shown mercy, Blessed are the Pure of heart, for they shall see God’

Clarrisa is my schoolmate from the Sisters of Mary School, a school founded by Fr. Al to provide free high school education and vocational training for the poor.

Thank you.

Obama on Canada's Health Care System

Just how significant is Canada's Health Care System?

Well, when it comes to US Health Care System debate, Canada's Health Care System is often used as an example. US President Barack Obama is uncertain if Canada's Health Care System will work in the US, too, but he has good words about it.

"I don't find Canadians particularly scary, but I guess some of the opponents of reform think that they make a good bogeyman," he said.

Obama went on to say the Canadian system wouldn't work in the U.S., but many American doctors believe it does some things better.

"Our health care system delivers probably the highest specialty quality care in the world but our primary care infrastructure is not good," said Dr. Joseph Ross of the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine.

Canadians have a longer life expectancy, lower infant mortality rates and lower rates of obesity and diabetes than people in the United States. Canadians' primary care doctors get paid more and spend more time with their patients than doctors across the border to the south.[Source]

Canada's Heath Care System is one the primary reasons why most of my clients want to live and work in CanadaHe.

On Canada's Government Health Care System

When asked why they want to live and work in Canada, one of the common answers I receive from my clients is because of Canada's Government Health Care System. They think that they will be better of with Canada's health care system.

But is Canada's health care system really good?

Have you heard about Top 8 Reasons not to Immigrate to Canada? Top 6 reason is because of Canada's health care crisis.

Practicing physicians in Canada are in a shortage, 1 in 4 Canadians cannot get a family doctor. Canadian doctors are leaving to move permanently to the United States. Statistics Canada and the Canadian Medical Association both have identified that for every 1 American doctor that moves to Canada, 19 (nineteen) Canadian doctors move to the United States! Doctors in Canada are overworked and underpaid, and there is a cap on their salaries.

And then consider this story from CNN

KINGSTON, Ontario (CNN) -- For Shona Holmes, simple pleasures such as playing with her dog or walking in her plush garden are a gift.

After suffering from crushing headaches and vision problems, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor four years ago. She was told if it wasn't removed, she could go blind or even die.

"They said to me that you had a brain tumor and it was pressing on your optic chasm and that it needed to come out immediately," Holmes said.

Holmes is Canadian, but the "they" she refers to are doctors at the Mayo Clinic in the United States, where she turned after specialists in her own government-run health care system would not see her fast enough.

Now, do you still want to live and work in Canada? Undecided now? Let me help you decide.

If you think that you and your family will have a better health care system by staying at where you are, then don't immigrate to Canada!

But before you think ill of Canada's Health Care System, I suggest you watch Sicko, video a documentary made by Michael Moore:

Sicko is a 2007 documentary film by American film maker Michael Moore. The film investigates the American health care system, focusing on its health insurance and pharmaceutical industry. The film compares the for-profit, non-universal U.S. system with the non-profit universal health care systems of Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Cuba.[Source]

Canadian officials and doctors insist most life-threatening cases are treated quickly. That they are looking at what they have to do to prioritize patients -- critically ill versus purely elective surgeries.

Toronto's Doug Wright can attest to that. The 40-year-old father of three young boys found out last month he has cancer -- a tumor on his leg.

But he says he never had to wait more than five days to see a specialist or get a test. And from diagnosis to surgery, it will be just over a month.

"The community medical system thought this process could not have been any better. I have not had to wait to see some of the best specialists in the country, who are renowned internationally," Wright said.[Source]

Canada's health care system may not be perfect nor the best. But it's working.