A personal view on Canada’s health care

As a former Canadian whose relatives and friends still reside there, I want to share with you a few thoughts about the Canadian health care system.

One of my Canadian friends has a niece who has been on kidney dialysis for five years. A perfect kidney match was found a year ago. Yet, the patient still awaits surgery.

The government cannot fund an adequate number of operating rooms, so the wait for any surgery is long.

This same friend had to wait about a year for cataract surgery. Her eyesight deteriorated; she quit work. No treatment can begin: the ophthalmologist informed her there were still 90 patients ahead of her.

Shortly thereafter, she had breast cancer. She is allergic to tamoxifen, which is covered by the Canadian plan. Her oncologist suggested another drug, but it would cost her $4,400 for a six-month supply. She cannot afford it.

Another friend moved from the Maritimes to Ontario. She and her family are on the waiting list for a family doctor.

Canadians are taxed at an unbelievably high rate to support an inadequate health care system. On every item purchased in Ontario, there is a combined 13 percent Goods and Service/Provincial Service Tax. Funerals, grocery items, and services are not taxed. That is expected to change in July 2010.

Do we really want something similar in this country?

Fern Parish

Iowa City