Dear editor,
B.C.’s health-care system is a government controlled monopoly with inherent corruption and inefficiencies. Defenders of this deficient system want to maintain the status quo in our increasingly unsustainable health-care system. People are suffering severe pain while having to wait for necessary orthopedic surgery for more than a year or two. Not surprising, use of dangerous pain-killing drugs while waiting for surgery causes further damage to essential organs.
Defenders of the status quo like to compare the dual private and government insurance option with the scary health-care costs in the USA. Instead, we should look to the Netherlands where per person costs are comparable to Canada while there are no long waiting lists for either private or public services.
In 2015 the Netherlands maintained its number-one position at the top of the annual European health consumer index. The Netherlands has been in the top three countries in every report they have published since 2005.
The Netherlands was also ranked first in a study comparing the health-care systems of the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany and New Zealand. Moreover, among major developed countries, Canada ranks in second last place ahead of the United States when it comes to efficiency in the delivery of health care.
The Netherlands has the right policy, freedom, timely and affordable health-care services whether through private or public resources. It is time for Canada to emulate the best-in-class.
Anthonie den Boef
Nanoose Bay