'Those of us who see public health care as the pinnacle of political achievement in Canada are in a struggle to protect it'

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Dear American neighbours,


I have always been able to choose my own doctor, and I have done so a number of times throughout my life.  Moreover, I greatly appreciate the universal health care we have here in Canada, and the only thing that worries me is that the greed fuelling privatization along the lines of what is currently afflicting the U.S. is also at work here, even though "going private" is demonstrably going to be much more expensive and land the majority of people in the difficulties so many Americans now suffer with.  And lastly: our Canadian Medicare is NOT "socialized medicine", if by that it meant that the doctors work for the state.  All our doctors conduct their own private practices.

Hanne Quillevelre,

Victoria, B.C., Canada

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Dear American neighbours,

I understand that you are looking for testimonials about the Canadain health-care system.

As a consumer I can relate my own experience. I was referred by my GP to a GI specialist for a colonoscopy on September 8, 2006 it was determined that I had colorectal cancer. The GI in turn referred me to a surgeon and I had a bowel resection on October 13. I had a 10- day stay in hospital. It cost me nothing for all of this.

My husband and I pay $96.00 per month to our Provincial Medical Services Plan which covers all the testing, proceedures, surgery, hospital fees, Dr.'s fees etc.  As we are both retired on small fixed pensions I could not see how we could survive on the American system.

We have lived with the Canadian system all of our lives and find comfort knowing that care is available to all, rich and poor alike.

Arleen Simmonds

Kamloops, B.C., Canada

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Dear American neighbours,

I have seizures and on every occasion that I would go to emergency I was admitted within 15 minutes. The nurses were attending me within 10 minutes and a doctor 20 - 30 minutes after that. EEG's and CAT's were done and I was out again to go home and rest. Never did this event take more than 5 - 6 hours. I never take this care for granted though there are some cases that are exceptionally unfortunate and like all “bad news” it gets all the attention. We are free to find another doctor if we wish. Many of us actually “shop around” and find a physician we can feel comfortable with. I can't imagine it any other way.

Generally speaking, our public system encourages healthy beginnings enabling families to better educate their children and functioning of our workplace and gives us a better sense of equality. This is not the Canadian Dream, this is Canadian Living.

John Warren

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Dear American neighbours,

Medicare was the greatest single achievement in the political career of Tommy Douglas who is now recognized as Canada's finest citizen. Public medical insurance was opposed in Canada by entrepreneurial doctors and the insurance industry, just as it is being opposed today in the United States.  However, one of the things that identifies Canada is the health care it offers its citizens.  Even so, those of us who see public health care as the pinnacle of political achievement in Canada are in a constant struggle to protect it from the for-profit predators.  Medicare now needs to be extended to include pharmacare, home care and dental care, as was Tommy's plan.

Sheila Paterson

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