LaughableIKR t1_iujrbpi wrote on October 31, 2022 at 9:19 PM

I have friends who 'pew pew' Canada's hospitals. As a Canadian what are some of the biggest problems with the healthcare system in Canada that isn't directly a billing issue to patients?

I-Argue-With-Myself OP t1_iujsliw wrote on October 31, 2022 at 9:28 PM

Our governments (you can guess which parties) have tried to starve the system to bring in privatization, but if you're having an emergency (like actual emergency), you receive the best immediate care. Surgery, ICU, broken bones, baby delivery, etc, you get immediate great care. Due to budgets, the middle "non-emergency" surgeries kind of get shunned. Also, family doctors are overextended and there simply aren't enough which kind of makes a mess of things.

The longest I think I've waited for an actual emergency was years ago now when I broke my wrist and it needed to be reset. I had to wait for the surgeon to finish his previous surgery to do my wrist in an emergency. I had to sit in the ER for like, I dunno, maybe a half hour?

So, actual emergencies = great. Not so emergencies = sub par, family Doctor scheduling appointments = neglected and cumbersome

But it's all "free"

Edit: should also note, our specialists are amazing. The lineups to get in with them (again for non-emergency surgeries, think non-debilitating hip, knee, etc) are long, because we all have access to them

LaughableIKR t1_iujyg9a wrote on October 31, 2022 at 10:11 PM

Sounds like Heaven compared to the US. I can't wait until my paperwork is done and I move to Canada. (parents were Canadian)

I-Argue-With-Myself OP t1_iujzt7t wrote on October 31, 2022 at 10:22 PM

Not sure how the US works but provinces are in charge of healthcare. So systems slightly vary province to province. I have friends in Ontario, BC, Quebec and Alberta who have their gripes with the systems, but overall are happy with them (I guess they're also the biggest 4 provinces lol)

Whatifim80lol t1_iujrysd wrote on October 31, 2022 at 9:23 PM

Some people complain that there are wait time issues for specialists. This is largely because a greater percentage of the population has access to healthcare and these specialists.