U.S. president Obama has begun the process of revamping the U.S. health care system, с целью providing health insurance for the millions of uninsured Американцы — a goal that, at least in theory, Канада уже достиг. По Министерство здравоохранения Канады:

Canada’s national health insurance program, often referred to as “Medicare,” is designed to ensure that all residents have reasonable access to medically necessary hospital and physician services, on a prepaid basis.

Однако, the most vexing aspect of the Canadian health care system — to newcomers and long-time residents alike — may be the often-lengthy wait times for services. Как CBC сообщил, “Long waits for diagnostic tests, access to specialists and some surgeries уже давно at the heart of complaints about the failings of Canada’s health-care system.”

Так what’s a country to do?

Делай, как французской дел, говорит Глоб энд мейл columnist Lysiane Gagnon:

Ð’ Канаде, people keep exchanging horror tales about how long they had to wait in emergency wards or for an operation or even for a doctor’s appointment. It’s a common topic of conversation. Во Франции, a country I know well, waiting times is a subject no one talks about, for the simple reason that people are cared for without delay.

Иногда, хотя, my French friends do complain about their health-care system. They say it has deteriorated. Один друг, Например, recently told me that “we no longer can call doctors at their home on the weekend, and house calls are difficult to get.” To a Canadian ear, this sounds like a description of paradise.

Gagnon cites World Health Organization statistics indicating that among the countries with the best overall health performance, Франция была Нет. 1, в то время как Канада была тридцатая и U.S. 37й.

If you’re новый в Канаду, and you’re trying to decipher the Canadian health care system, проверить это comparison of international health care systems а также Health Canada website.

Фото © Carolyn B. Хеллер