More Canadians open to private health care, survey finds

A new survey reveals why Canadians would eagerly support the expansion of private health care clinics. The senior manager with Deloitte National Health Services discusses how confident Canadians are when it comes to the country's public health care system.

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Mark Fam, the senior manager with Deloitte National Health Services, speaks on CTV's Canada AM, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009.

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Wed. Nov. 25 2009 5:50 PM ET

A new survey suggests Canadians are becoming more open to the idea of more private clinics to allow everyone quicker access to health care.

More than half of Canadians surveyed by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions say they like the idea of more private health care -- but only if it means shorter wait times and no harm to the publicly-funded system.

The study of the attitudes of more than 2,000 adults found that 56 per cent support increasing private care services but only if there is no impact on the current publicly-funded health care system.

Fifty per cent said they like the idea of more private health care clinics if it resulted in an overall reduction in wait times for public care.

Mark Fam, the senior manager with Deloitte National Health Services and the lead author for the Canadian health consumer survey, says his survey suggests attitudes are shifting.

"We see an interest in expanding private care if there is truly no impact on the public health care system. That's a very important point," he told Canada AM Wednesday. "There is still some opposition but there is a majority saying we're open to it if there is no impact."

"I think this speaks to the fact that Canadians still have very strong confidence in the public health care system."

Fam says there were a few contradictions in the survey results about how happy Canadians are with the current system.

For example, Canadians were asked to grade the health care system in this country; 43 per cent gave it an 'A' or a 'B', while in the U.S., only about 21 per cent gave it a similar grade.

In addition, significantly fewer Canadians than American believe that half or more of health system spending is wasted (15 per cent of Canadians versus 52 per cent of Americans).

But when Canadians were asked whether they were happy with their most recent hospital care experience, only 62 per cent said they were satisfied, as compared to 74 per cent of Americans.

The survey also found that Canadians have ideas about how to make the current system better. They want their doctors to adopt the technologies that have changed their own lives: email and the Internet.

Almost two thirds (61 per cent) want their doctors, hospitals and/or the government to provide them with a personal health record or medical records they can access through a secure website. And two-thirds would like to be able to access a family member's health record.

About 51 per cent are interested in gaining access to a secure Internet site that allows them to schedule office visits, view test results, order prescription refills, find information about treatment options, and check status of bills and payments.

Similarly, 49 per cent want to be able to contact their doctor by email to exchange information about their health and get answers to questions.

Other findings from the study show that 75 per cent of Canadians have private health insurance (primarily through their employer) but that only 25 per cent feel "well-insured" across their public and private insurance plans. As well, only 39 per cent feel they are well-prepared to handle future health care costs.

For the survey, Deloitte polled 2,304 Canadian adults in November with a questionnaire consisting of 74 questions with 46 potential follow up questions.

The Deloitte Center for Health Solutions is part of the Deloitte family of tax, audit, and financial advisory services. The Center researches health care issues facing governments and health care providers, including the growing trend of health care consumerism.

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Fred Victoria BC
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Say you are at your local Post Office and the line is very long creeping towards one counter, What is the post Office to do? No money or space to accommodate a better service. Next door is a private enterprise offering a quickerattendance. I would jump across instead of waiting. What would that mean for the post office? Yes! You are right, it would improve the time you would have to wait to get service at no extra cost to the post office.What I mean to say is: " In time the rich that can afford private clinics actually would pay to improve the service for public health care."

cam
said
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Why would CTV ever publish a poll done by a outfit who has such a obvious agenda.Reminds one of the phony climate reports published by big oil that the flat earthers repeat as gospel.Complete rubbish!

This is me
said
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After waiting nearly a year and a half for surgery on my arm, bring on a two tiered system. Our system as it is sucks and needs to be changed instead of tossing buckets of $ at it.

jean
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Why is that Canadians can spend their money on things that are bad for their health like cigerettes but they are not allowed to decide for themselves if they want the government to look after them or not .Shouldn't we make up our minds on the healthcare that we want for ourselves shouldn't that be the way it is in a free society.

Martin
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I cannot find anywhere who sponsored the study. I doubt they did it for free, and surely the sponsors were looking to forward progress of private for profit healthcare in Canada. Deloitte is a healthcare insurance provider, to start. Hopefully Canadians are watching the American healthcare mess and corruption, and will protect Canadian Health Care at all costs. The private American system is unique in the industrialized world on the low end, not the high end.

SW Ontarion
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So 75% of Canadians have private health insurance with their employer...what about the self employed? I have to wait in an emergency room becuase I have no GP, but thats because he retired and there are no doctors in my area to replace him/take more patients. There are several things lacking in the public system, but so many ways it can be improved before private care is introduced. I have no alternative but the public system, and I'm sure more than 25% of Canadians are in the same situation.

Mark - Fort Erie
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The corruption, and waste in the public system is sickening. Competition would help reduce costs and create efficiency.What I pay in taxes would pay for my premiums, and I would get far more bang for my buck. I don't know the answer - maybe some sort of two tiered health care is a solution.....

Andrew
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Private healthcare would be great for Canada as a whole. Its people wouldn't be so reliant on the government to take care of every single aspect of their life. We would attract doctors from all over the world because we'd be able to pay them more, less of our doctors would go to the States to make money and we'd have less lineups at the ER. Bring on the CHANGE!

Janis Eliason
said
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So now the rich have everything hey? If your sick or in need of an operation(& don't happen to have lots of money) don't bother going to the hospital. Is that coming next? Does that mean your life is more important than some one is poor.It makes my stomach turn!Please...............

dawn5651
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well where is the comment that people also don't want the public health care touched...hmmmmmmmmmmmm.....my advice to the CONS is don't touch medicare...after all we lazy bastards need it...thats what a CON mp called canadians who are unemployed

Amanda in Mississauga
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A real problem with private health care is that working people, who can barely afford to work, cannot afford it. Already, I spend thousands a year on medication and I have no spare monies to pay for anything else. The heathcare system we have, could be better, but right now, it is saving my life. If it all goes private, I might as well die because I will not be able to afford to live.

Mike Robinson, Thompson
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As with any "news story" on a "survey" I would like to know who paid for this survey and I would like to see a list of the questions asked and a transcript of any preamble to the questions. Only then will I buy the results. I've seen too many slanted surveys to take any of them at face value.

Doug @ BC
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We should all be OPEN to the discussion.We might also gain some new ideas by following the debate,and the resolution to the debate that is going on in the USA.And NO,I am not advocating a USA solution for Canada.What I am advocating is that we take the best ideas from a whole host of other nations,and make a Canadian system that works.The real problem is that we can't find anyone to trust on this issue. To "Mike in BC",I share your concerns.But I do not share your suggstion that doing nothing is an option.We spend more,and more,and more money every year.The outcomes and wait lines get worse and worse.The real definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting a different result. I also am reluctant to trust a private health care provider to be open and honest.But the same thing is true of the health boards and the public sector health care workers.They defend the system because it is a monopoly that makes it easy for them to hold the entire nation hostage.I see more spending,but not a lot of increases in service.In part,because the vast amount of the increased dollars just go into the pockets of the people working in the industry.Not to provide more workers,or more services. Our current system worked well enough for the time it was designed.It is not,however,going to be sustainable much longer.If we spend our entire GDP on health care and education,where will the money come from for things like transit or clean energy.Or for a whole host of things we need to build to make this nation something we can be proud to leave to our children and grandchildren.So far,it looks like we leave debt.We MUST work together to do better.

jackandjill
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A private HC system would only benefit the elite rich. It may well improve wait times but I doubt that you will get better care. The doctors who opt to practice in private clinics will be there for the money. But don't think you won't have to wait in a packed room full of sick people, since rich people get sick too. But I'm sure you won't mind since they are rich sick people... which will give you a false sense of security. They'll pack 'em in like cattle and you'll get your 5 minutes with the good doctor, thereby drastically shortening wait times. After all, more patients equals more money. And eventually you will have to wait longer and longer because, even though you are rich, you can only afford the $60,000 appendectomy instead of the $120,000 appendectomy so, get to the back of the rich line. How do you feel now? ha ha ha ha

Edb
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"Outraged Canadian"Good of you to unilaterally define who is a "real Canadian"To comment on your question regarding rich people "skipping to the front of line". With a private OPTION, the "line" would be outside of the public system therefore most likely freeing up a space for you should you CHOOSE to take it. By your logic, since those with more money are not more "valuable", I can assume you have no problem sharing the public line with a drug addict on welfare who contributes NOTHING to the public system?We're all equal right?

Brian
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There is nothing wrong with public health care, what is wrong is the method of delivery. Problem is nobody wants to install meaningful change and anybody who tries is shouted down as embracing the US system.

Elvis
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Very suspicious. 56% ???? yeah right. I have yet to meet a fellow Canadian who wants to pay 500 to 800 dollars a month for their health care.

Tono
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Private healthcare is suited for rich people, who always have the money the to pay for services.However, private healthcare for an entire nation is extremely primitive. "Wealth for health", is really what it is. Third-world countries have shown us the capabilities of a private healthcare system, or rather, lack of capabilities.

Jim in BC
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I would question the results of the survey as well. I don't know who they handpicked or which tax bracket they picked people from. I don't know ANYONE who would support private health care. Canadians should be proud that they have a system that takes care of it's citizens regardless of whether or not they can pay.

pheobe
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"Other findings from the study show that 75 per cent of Canadians have private health insurance (primarily through their employer) but that only 25 per cent feel "well-insured" across their public and private insurance plans. As well, only 39 per cent feel they are well-prepared to handle future health care costs." This implies that we already have private health care in Canada. Not sure about the rest of Canada but my payroll deductuion is for EXTENDED health care coverage, not private health coverage. I think 75% is a gross exaggeration of those who actually pay out of pocket for health care. This is twisting the facts to have us beleive that we already pay for private health care so as to lessen the impact if we do have to start paying out of pocket. Only 39% are well prepared to cover future health care costs - that means 61% will struggle greatly to afford private health. Would these people would have to take out loans to afford private health care if they couldn't afford to pay for a private insurance plan? The smirk on Mark Fam's face in the photo insert - says it all: "Sucker!"

W.
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Private health care just mean more money will be taken out of the system for profit instead of real costs. Canada has a system with terrific potential, we need to solve those problem not reinvent the system. Just ask many Americans what they have to pay for private health these days...

Outraged Canadian
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Two tiered health care is class discrimination, fix the problems in our current health care system. Rich people are not more valuable than the poor so why should they be able to skip to the front of the line?CTV is the mouthpiece for the conservative party, stop trying to manufacture consent for this. Real Canadians, the MAJORITY of Canadians do not support a two tiered system, one for the rich and one for the poor. If any party attempts to change the system that party will be removed immediately. If you don't believe me, go ahead and try it.

JD in TO
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The average Canadian pays over $4,000 a year for health care through taxes. If Canadians realized what kind of private plan that would purchase in the US, they'd be rioting for privatization.The public system covers everyone, but also means that we get universally bad service for our money. After all, the government really doesn't do a good job running anything. Why would health care be any different? recall e-health with McGoofy.

Jackie Brown
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I have lived under Private Health Insurance and still have a large family living in the USA that has private insurance.My younger brother who is 28 years old says he cannnot afford his private health insurance as it is very expensive and is deductibles are so high that he would have to have a major incident before he would even consider using his private insurance. He is healthy and has no medical conditions. His insurance rates have sky rocketed. My father has a pre-existing condition and his "private insurer" denied him a claim.Go watch Michael Moore's documentary on Private HMO's in the US (Documentary called: SICKO)....it is reality....You cannot expect a Corporation (an artifical legal person in the eyes of the law) whose primary focus is profit to have any sympathy for patients.We have an excellent Canadian Healthcare system...Yes, we do have problems in this system...no system is prefect. I have been through private insurance and from my personal experience it is a disaster. Sorry people will disagree and I will not agrue with them....it is just my experience and my humble opinion.

Mark Smith (Montreal, PQ)
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The problem isn't with public health care, it's with public servants. How much money was spent on bunk advertisement deals (Liberals), stupid inquiries (Conservatives Liberals), ill timed TV attack ads (Conservatives), bad tax management (just about everyone), increasing the senate (Conservatives), and how much money did Quebec spend trying to separate (Bloc Quebecois) and how much money did Canada spend to keep it in (Everyone else)? I want my public option, but it seems that in order to keep it, I need someone worth voting for first, and we've got nothing.

reece
said
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I don't buy it. We Canadians outlive Americans by several years - do we have a death wish? We have a lower infant mortality rate than the for-profit system in the USA - do we hate our babies.Anybody can go check out the stats - CIA Factbook online will explain it. For profit is preffered? Really? Firstly, who was polled and do those people appreciate what for-profit means? It means take your sorry ass out of the Ambulance if you don't carry a credit card and all the dead beats are gonna be supported by the taxpayer in the end anyway - it sucks for us, and the for-profit hospitals laugh all the way to the bank picking and choosing who enters their plan. Next is a DNA analysis to get rid of people who have heart disease or cancer in their family history. Get real and educate the public before you poll them.

Doc Gonzo
said
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This is like a self-fulfilling prophecy ... those who don't want our system to work have been working hard to undermine it.

The Widowmaker
said
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For profit healthcare would be a benifet to all Canadians. Company's want to make money period. If we had for profit healthcare providers like we do for x-ray and blood work don't you think that wait times would be next to minimal? It's not like we'd have to give up are OHIP. Just government run public funded outdated services. You need to look at the overall picture.If our government set tough guidelines for these for profit healthcare providers and resonable time frames I think we'd all be in bester heath. God knows we could all use the tax relief this would create with out having to fund all the healthcare infastructure.

Metro
said
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This isn't news.What is news is that so few Canadians commenting here understand that most Canadian doctors are, in fact, in private practice.I'm fully in favour of private medical clinics and hospitals. However, I support single-payer health care to my dying breath.Which will come sevral years later in a single-payer system than in a fully private-for-profit one.The only major aspect of our health care system that's ACTUALLY worse off than private-for-profit care is cancer care. Most of the rest of the claimed failures are either anecdote or sheer invention.Wait times aren't great, but the difference under our system is that at least everybody's in the queue.If we want to look into a mixed private public system, let's at least look at some that work, such as Norway and Sweden ... Oh, but the same people whinging about Canadian health care are probably averse to the tax increases that such an excellent standard would require.In short, if you want to pay for your public care AND pay gouging insurance premiums, you go ahead.I'll stick with the public system, thanks.

MARG MM
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Since Canada already has a two-tiered health care system, I always wonder why the politicians on the left are always screaming against it. Politicians, proffessional atheletesand I'm sure lots of others get preferential treatment. As it stands now, our public health care system leaves a lot to be desired. With the amount of money that is constantly being poured into it, we should all be getting top notch care in a timely manner.I don't know about other provinces, but in B.C. there is a lot of money owed by foreigners who come here on vacation, are treated in our hospitals, then leave without ever paying the bill.Personally, I don't see anything wrong with public/private partnerships. If the private clinics paid for the equipment, staffing etc, and medicare paid the clinic each time someone used their services, what could be wrong with that?? In the public system, there is always a shortage of equipment, staff etc, thus resulting in long wait times. Let the private clinics take care of this, and let medicare pay for it, thus equal treatment for all.

Paul C
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What an absurd poll. Of course people prefer more private care if it means faster service and no harm to the public system. Who wouldn't want something with benefits at no cost!!!! The real question is whether the introduction of private care will harm the public system.

Sean H in Ottawa
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I'm fine with allowing the option for more private clinics. But they need to make sure that they don't decrease funding on the public healthcare system. I don't want people to be able to opt out of the public option just because they are paying for private.

Carol Thoro
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Sorry, I am skeptical of this survey.I have public health care and have never been given a survey to fill out with my answers.It could be done at our Dr.'s office, health clinics, hospitals,Also, what exactly are the questions and the answers- don't agree, somewhat agree, agree, strongly agree, undecided? as per the usual surveys with questions programmed for the most favourableanswer to whomever is conducting this survey.My vote is a nay to private health. The upper class will have, the lower class will have not.

bob
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Yes lets follow the usa, we can all go broke or die getting health care and will it be expensive look at the americans 3/4 do not have health care just the rich do

Corbin
said
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I believe that a private public blend is a finite and long-term answer to the Canadian Health Care Crisis. Private practices are forced to operate like business. They need to be cost efficient and provide good services at a fair price. They need to keep their customers happy, and their customers are us! This competition will force the provincial government to run the public as efficiently as a private organization can. I for one am sick and tired of health care funding being sucked up by overpaid, underworked bureaucrats and administrators. Efficiency in both sectors of the health care system will lead to better health care for everyone.

John Lethbridge
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I would like to know who sanctioned this so called survey. The only ones to gain from propaganda like this are the private "for money" health care providers who have already proven their greed south of the border. Next up... private clinics, private hospitals, emergency patients being re-routed to other hospitals because they don't have a private insurance plan. It's the same old story. The rich wanting to get ahead of someone else in the health system because they can afford it. GREED NOT NEED! What is a life worth? If we leave the door to private health care open, even a bit, we become no better than some 3rd world countries where a human life has no value. Don't be tricked into believing this kind of PROPAGANDA. Privatized health care doesn't care about how quickly you can have your problem looked at. Their one and only concern is to make money... as much as the public will bare. Lobbyists condoning this type of health care are true wolves in sheeps clothing, trying in one hand to tell you that their only concern is that you get the quality health care that you "deserve", while the other hand is digging into your wallet. Be thankful for what we have in Canada. Our federal health care system may not be perfect, but it's a long way from an American health care system where some people have to sell their homes in order to get some procedures done.

Joe
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Why is everyone's first instinct to think a hybrid system will be like the Americans? Euro countries have hybrid systems, I believe France has a hybrid system and they were rated in the top 5 in the world.Private/hybrid does not mean a U.S. system. We already pay for ambulance services, Rx drugs, physio, chiro, dental, optical....getting the idea here?The current system has its good points which should be kept and augmented by private health care.A knee jerk reaction against change is silly and uninformed.

Francesco Sestito
said
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We already have private medically delivery of service in Canada, it's a multi billion dollar business, with all these walk-in clinics, and resort like Hernia hospitals etc,etc.etc. please, let us be honest about what the real issue is , t's all about making a buck $$$$$$, not about curbing wait times . Wait times for delivery of medical care would be a non issue if all concerned private sector parties who are already billing our health care insurance and government had the interest of all Canadian's and worked together to improve our current system. I believe that this will not happen for those who believe that healthcare should be determined by market forces. For those who embrace the American model of health care delivery, also embrace the notion of social darwinism, and medical insurance fraud that adds into the billions. If Privatization is the way to go, why not privatize, libraries, parks, museums, etc, because we will also get a bqang for our buck. Remember our Auto industry , who bailed them out?

Gerald in Ottawa
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More private health care will do nothing to reduce wait times because it will draw the best health care professionals away from the public system to earn more in the private system, leaving the rest to deal with the vast majority of Canadians who couldn't afford a private clinic. Wait times would still be long (if not longer) for most Canadians, while the rich bypass them and get the best care. Yeah, that sounds like a great solution... if you're rich! Wake up Canada. We may wait in line, but at least the system is there and free when we need it.

Edb
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We need a European model that allows for a private option, which in turn allows for (are you ready lefties) CHOICE! Besides North Korea or Cuba, we are the only industrialized nation on the planet where you are forbidden BY LAW to choose your health care options unless you leave the country to do so Soon the number of Canadians lining up for care in Buffalo will be as large as they are here.Can we please put this sacred cow to bed?

jason
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There is no way that private health care will not impact the public system, so this survey question is irrelevant. If people want private health care, go to the US and get it, then come back across the border. No need to eviscerate the existing system. US Healthcare companies can't wait to get their hands into the cookie jar up here, that's why they paid for this survey. Doctors, medical device companies, health insurers and pharmaceutical corporations all stand to make windfall profits with the introduction of a private system, so they are all keen to see it happen.Most of the comments in favor of private health care seem to think that it will entail small fees and no wait lines. Go down to the States and check it out. It is hugely expensive, and if you are not wealthy you will have to wait until you can afford it. People who are financially well off enough to afford private health care are already getting it by traveling to the US.

GP
said
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Deloitte Center for Health Solutions = private health care lobby.More misinformation to try and increase profits and opportunity for private health care. Ya and how is that working south of the border.

D. LaFlamme
said
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After having gone through private vehicle insurance into ICBC...we were all scared....hey, it was much better in the end. Now you want to go private in healthcare.......scary...people....it is scary. Hope you all have bank accounts overflowing!

Jim
said
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For profit healthcare is not the answer. Corporations are under a statuatory duty to work in the best interests of their shareholders. This implies maximizing profit. There should be better ways to improve our healthcare outcomes then allowing companies to profit off our illnesses.

dotty
said
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A few weeks ago every one in my family was sent an SOS from an American relative (with a controllable chronic disease) who almost died due to an experimental drug problem. The wife was at her wit's end, because when sick he lost his job *they fired him for being ill) and she could not pay for his treatment and the State refused to pay. Sad, sad letter. . She was basically begging money off Canadian relatives. The irony, this man has two brothers with same disease. It's genetic, not lifestyle. One in France one in Canada. Both are well taken care off. The brother in France is so well taken care of, he won't return to Canada.And I know someone with same disease in ENGLAND, a recent immigrant, who even gets a car for her condition from NHS. I emailed this letter to an American relative in Canada, she wasn't remotely surprised. This kind of thing happens all the time in US she said.

Adam Davidson-Harden
said
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When public health care was established in the 50s, doctors and insurance corporations resisted strongly - they stood to lose profits. Health care, based on broadly socialist goals of universal access to health not determined by income and thus on the market (and inequalities between rich and poor), is a thorn in the side of those who despise such socialist values... please watch Michael Moore's Sicko to see some of the consequences of the privatized US system, where well over 50 million can't afford basic insurance, and so have to 'pony up' in cash for medical difficulties - market solutions to health care are insane and immoral, and we should defend our public health care system - see the Canadian Health Coalition and the Council of Canadians (canadians.org) for more on this.

Con Servative
said
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So, you won't buy this survey? Okay, we'll just have to run up the national debt, then claim that to reduce it, we have to cut government expenditures on health. That should fix it. Stephen Harper and I are going to change this country in ways you can't begin to imagine because you do not have a mind that worships freedom. You will learn and you will obey.

Survey Says: Survey Rigged
said
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Deloitte is part of a US corporation hoping to rip off Canadians the way millions of US people are ripped off by their "health" insurance system.And of course the naive idiots of Canada are ready to destroy their own nation by going, "Yes, master. Yes, master."

Joel in Kamlopos
said
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Any changes to health care need to be resovled through a national dialogue and vote. Health care is an integral part of Canada and what it means to be Canadian. I shudder when I realize that we're on the way to a for profit model. A U.S. model is not the model to adopt. Look to Northern Europe. They reportedly have one of the best systems on the PLANET. There must be aspects that we can adapt to Canada.It's a serious enough issue that we can't let politicians steamroller changes through without actually listening to our needs and desires.

realityseeker
said
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This is an obvious manipulation of the poll question to make it seem like Canadians want US style private health care. Doctors would in large numbers opt for more money at private clinics leaving fewer doctors for the public system. This is another attempt by the wealthy to move to the front of the line. If Canadian health care is so bad, why is the average life expectancy here several years higher than in the US? The answer is that private expensive health care has put proper care beyond the reach of 40% of Americans so the rich can get theirs. This is what the wealthy in Canada would like to see here.

Spence in Ontario
said
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I have serious doubts about this poll. The group doing it, the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, is quite likely to be biased towards privatization and it is a US based private group. It is hard to trust a poll that isn't done by an impartial third party. Further more back in August I found a survey conducted by Nanos Research that shows almost the exact opposite with 86% of Canadians favoring 'public solutions' to increase effectiveness of our medicare system.

M. Cameron
said
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I'll take our imperfect system any day over what Americans have now. Thanks.

D in AB
said
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This is one of the few things I would actually protest in the streets about.

Ryan B
said
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Since Harris made it easier for private health care to survive in this province, our public system stopped evolving, and stopped getting better with the times. Even the smallest amount of private health care that opens up is like a virus that slowly eats away at the public system; the richest people with the loudest voices immediately go to the private system, which indirectly stops the funding and changes needed in the public system. As more and more of the wealthy go to the private system, the public system becomes stalled - more and more as a direct function. With a private system, profit becomes a greater and greater concern to the shareholders, so the drug and insurance companies spend most of their budget on advertising, then on research and development which ultimately leads to worse products, with hidden side-effects. The more sick you become, the more the drug companies make. Before you know it, if this continues in Ontario, we'll start seeing advertisements on every tv station telling you you needs 'this new pill' if you feel fatigue and have a headache once a week. Watch CNN, or any other American station - The cycle of money between the drug companies, media companies, politicians, and insurance companies is effectively murder.

gus
said
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it is all about money. there is a lot of money to be made by private health providers. but, the vast majority of the people in this country prefer what we have now, so this discussion it moot.

Ed in Alberta
said
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Oh sure, a survey conducted by the "for profit" health industry finds that more Canadians are "open to private" (that means "for profit") health care.Yup, uhuh. Colour me more-than-sceptical.

gus
said
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it is all about money. there is a lot of money to be made by private health providers. but, the vast majority of the people in this country prefer what we have now, so this discussion it moot.

Mike
said
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Does the poll also state that half of us are willing to shoot ourselves in the foot. Why do we need private clinics giving out flu shots so that the rich can jump the line.

Observer
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Reading some of these posts, it saddens me to see the naivety of Canadians on this subject. Again it seems that years of indoctrination have left Canadians misinformed as to what exactly private healthcare entails. It does NOT mean that people will have to pay thousands just to see a doctor, it does NOT mean they will have to pay tens of thousands out of their own pocket to get a surgery and it certainly does NOT mean that there will be a two-tiered system where the rich get treated and the poor do without. Private coverage in the vast majority of the world involves people having access to the public system (which they still contribute to using tax dollars) while at the same time having the option to join a private plan, which is paid for by cumpulsory deductions from their pay. The poor still have access to a well funded public system of equal quality and those who work have the option to go another equally funded route. Do some research and you will quickly see that countries like the UK, Germany, France, Switzerland and Japan all employ variations of this model and their citizens enjoy better coverage than we do! We as a nation want to pride ourselves on our belief that we are citizens of the world, when in reality it appears that we are ignorant as to how everyone (except the USA) operates. Its time to broaden our perspectives!

david sawkiw[saskatchewan farmer]
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@Darren in stoon:::: I hate to burst your bubble,, but WAY less tan 56% call the shots in Canada. Usually only about 60 % actually vote. That 60% is split by the Conservatives, Liberals, NDP, Bloc.That math sometimes means that with less than 30% of the votes a party can actually form a majority.You [being from the West] should know this. Thats the way our system was designed by the eastern elite about a hundred years ago....

Frank Buchan
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A survey run by a firm with something to gain depending on the outcome of the survey is worth little; and though our system needs to change, we need first to ask ourselves what about the current one causes the wait times, etc. Wait times, are not the problem, but a symptom of some underlying problem; and unless we know the actual causes, no amount of two-tiering will solve them.

Paul
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"Political Will" will to do something about health care?It's the Political Will (Political Parties/Government) that has decimated Health Care while the populace slept with their blinders on.It is awfully strange that the Health Care that we had years ago is nothing what it looks like today, with more and more health care coverage taken away from us. The problem: While we slept with our blinders on, Government took away coverage under the disguise that it would save the Health Care System in the long run. That didn't work, so they then Increased Taxes, with the promise that the taxes would go to save the Health Care System, but of course, the taxes didn't go to the Health Care System, they simply used it for something else and used the excuse that it was needed there, while they ignored Health Care, while repeatedly telling us that it was in crisis.When are people going to wake up...that our Health Care System WOULD NOT be in crisis, if the taxes they took from us actually went to Health Care when they said the taxes were going to be applied there in the first place?So, get on board and demand that your Government do as it promised to do and that is, apply the taxes we were to pay for Health Care to ACTUAL Health Care. Otherwise, start selling your houses and get your bankruptcy papers in order, just like the Americans do when a health crisis hits them.

Morvin Stayner
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Where would all the private care doctors, nurses and other professionals come from, if not the public sector? Saying we support private care, provided there is no impact on the public health care system is like saying that we support tax increases, provided taxes don't increase. You can't one, without the other, so it's a meaningless finding, but it will no doubt be embraced by our NeoCon "friends" in Ottawa.

Tom (HFX)
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Regardless of Public or Private Health Care, the administrators of either Board will only increase costs for the services they provide. At least in a Public HCS there are regulations and checks to these administrators. This of the Banking system in the states that the Govt gave more freedom and power to them only to wreck the Global Financial fabric, now apply this to Canada's HCS. It will be a disaster as more Private companies will lower they price to entice the general public and as soon as the Public HCS is weak and falls the Private HCS will raise they rates and the general public will be in a worst case then actually having a Public HCS.Think before you act and respond to those on this board and the political members. HC is a business like no other, dropping rates now and only to raise them later will hurt everyone in the process, rather then a few presently.For that matter I have no problems with the present HCS, and I feel a balanced system of 80% Public and 20% Private will serve us well.I will not take credence in this survey run by some company looking to benefit they agenda. I stand by my comment.

Jim-Surrey
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Gee ya think? Maybe we could all have gotten the H1N1 vaccine in better time frame with clinics being given the vials instead of the system here where there is one outlet trying to cover 10's of thousands and then for those working an option for after work might help too.The employer should not have to suffer loss of productivity so employee can get the medicine.I have Asthma and can't get the damn shot cause I am needed at work.HOW is that looking after the public???

Lucie
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Another idea sponsored by the rich! I come from the middle-class and last year my mom was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. She was in the hospital for 58 days receiving the best care available to us. Could we have afforded that kind of care in a private system? NO because end of life care is defined as a luxury!Private system doesn't care about humanity, it's only about profits and gains! And don't even start me on a dual system...that one is doomed to fail once the greedy corporations starts seeing dollar signs...

CraigW
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The math is simple, there is a finite amount of healthcare resources in this country, including doctors and medical facilities. The more that goes to the people that can afford the "elite" healthcare, the less there will be for the rest of us.

Mark
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Ask yourself, if you would like to be included in the group of pople who have no health insurance at all and go to the hospital emergency room for care. Ask yourself about whats the use of having insurance, if when you need it you can't get treatment, because you have 'a prexisting condition'. Ask yourself, if you are comfortable paying $100.00 dollars for pills that now cost you $5.00. Ask yourself if you enjoy the CEO of the company that insures you a $100 million a year. Ask, Why is private health care so interested in getting their private care into Canada like here in the states. Finally ask why are people in the states trying to get a single payer system and being denied. Public health care in the states was first seriouly proposed by Harry Trumen, still doesn't exist. MONEY is what drives 'private' health care, not care for the patient.

Ottawa guy
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This story is just wrong. You want shorter wait times, better care? If you open a private clinic, where will you get nurses and doctors? Their not waiting for work, they have work in the public care system. You take a doctor from public, he will go private, making the lines longer, the cost higher and the care worst. If you think paying for health care out of your pocket is cheaper and better, why is it cost a lot more in the USA. Can you afford $3000 for a family doctor just to have access to one on a yearly basis (this is in Canada), let alone the cost for the referrals etc... Living in technicolours. I make good money, but I still enjoy the health care we have, because most don't get what the real alternative is because they think private means cheaper and better.

Observer
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To critics of increased private sector involvement in healthcare: Its time you all realized that the VAST majority of the world uses a public/private blend with excellent delivery and results. It�s time we sacrifice this "sacred cow" of the public only healthcare system because

A) Although we think we are on top of the world with our systems, we are nowhere close in terms of international rankings for healthcare delivery

B) Although we believe our system is the envy of the world, Im hard pressed to find another country that has adopted our model of healthcare for themselves and

C) Even progressive left leaning European countries offer a a public/private system and they are way ahead of us in terms of delivery of service to all patients.

At the root of all of this is the holier than though attitude that having a "public only" healthcare system sets us ahead and makes us more just than the big bad Americans with their for profit system. While this may be true in terms of coverage, private healthcare is not synonymous with "for profit" or "American Style Medicine". Many other models exist and we are foolish and ignorant to believe that if we abandon our system, the only other option is to go the way of the USA.@Joyce (N.S.): Countries that have the private/public mix often require medical staff to share their time between both systems to ensure equality of access to patients. Beyond that, salary caps could easily also be offered to make sure that healthcare workers don�t jump ship just for the sake of money. At the end of the day though, think about how many of our best and brightest we have already lost, who have moved on to other countries.

max Brenner
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This is the result of a propaganda push by the power and money of corporate health Insurers. It's all lies and deceit. Private Health Insurers murder the poor, and the middle class. There is no such thing as having private health insurance that does not compromise the public health care system. Only the very rich have health "care" in the private system. Private health Insurers are in the murder business. They make profit by murdering people and by NOT providing services... and they turn doctors and nurses into murderers. Private Insurance has only one goal which is to make money - and they will make that money through inflicting murder and untold suffering.The profit motive has no business affecting the health care of a nation. The Insurers are part of the entire of Corporate fascism and corporate monopolism that grinding North Americans into absolute slavery. They will dangle a carrot but in the end when they achieve control they will exercise their corporate mandate and practice Denial of health Services creating suffering and death. Reform the existing system - don't ruin what we already have. The power elite, controlled by the top .01 percent have 95 percent of the wealth and the bottom 40 percent less than 1 percent.. They have taken all of the wealth of the nation for themselves through exploitation and monopolism. Make them give most of it back and there is more than enough for us to live in paradise just like they do.

Johann
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I think the survey is slightly imprecise in terms of a definition of what "Private health care" really is.In terms of walk-in clinics and labs and other testing facilities - we already have them and have for quite some time. Procedures from such clinics are still covered by the various universal provincial health care plans. What people object to are specialist clinics or hospitals that charge over and above the going rate thus discriminating between those that can pay and can't pay extra.A Two-Tiered health care system that exists abroad and I suspect no one really wants here.

Robert,Toronto
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I truly doubt the honesty of this survey. Conducted by a private health care firm that would greatly benefit financially by a private system. "For example, Canadians were asked to grade the health care system in this country; 43 per cent gave it an 'A' or a 'B', while in the U.S., only about 21 per cent gave it a similar grade. "This quote is a complete misnomer. The US has nothing close to the Canadian medical system. So why would they be asked to grade a system they do not have. I'm not saying that our system is perfect. What system is? But we don't have to worry about losing our home, retirement savings and burdening our childrens future if and when we need medical help. As for the long waits. A number of factors combine to create this,in certain cercumstances,lets be clear about this. Ask the person who needs a hip replacement if their more important then the person who steps infront of them with the cardiac arrest.It's a triage system...the more desperate goes to the front of the line.People always believe their medical problem is more important then the guy beside them.And if they don't get immediate attention then they squak that the systm isn't working.Thats crap....just selfish crap.Let's check the people waiting in an emergency room.This last summer I had to use one.Close to half of the people in that room DID not need and emergency room visit..They where there back logging the system because they had a MINOR discomfort.Before you dismantle a system that provides a service in favour of a pay system to a private FOR PROFIT INSURANCE company.Ask yourself if your prepared,and forcing others,to pay the high cost of the premiums.Shake your head people...these surveys are conduct by the rich in favour of the rich.

Sask Doctor
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The public only approach is failing - we need both private and public. If someone can afford to pay to get treatment sooner, then why not? - It takes pressure off the public system, which is based on some outdated Soviet style thinking...

Steve
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I can't believe what I'm reading. An American for-profit consulting company puts out a study saying more Canadians want private health care (obviously to promote the idea in order to access the Canadian market) and all of you flock towards the American model.The current public system is very efficient compared to the fragmented American private health model. Regional boards are hundreds of times more efficient than hundreds of companies trying to make a profit off illness and suffering. Why does every nearly every modern nation offer similar or greater public health coverage as Canada have such excellent health benchmarks? The United States lags behind every other country with many statistics that leave it lingering at the bottom of the list.Canada cannot allow health care to shift any further into private hands. We don't want to end up in a situation where public health care lines have become so long that we become forced to go to the private clinic because most of our doctors have been lured by higher earnings.We need to stay true to Canadian values and realise the great institutions we have created in this country. If our predecessors reached for such amazing achievements as universal health care, proper labour standards, equality, good government, excellent public education, massive public hydro projects, and even railways and highways spanning our vast nation.

C. Porter in Courtice
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I think a two tiered system would work great. I personally would have no problem paying say....$25 every time I needed to go to a walk in clinic. Especially if it would prevent me from waiting for hours in a room packed with sick people. There needs to be some type of system that can incorporate the benefits of both public and private institiutions. We have seen in the US that a wholly private system doesn't work all that well, and the purely public one sure doesn't work great here either. Unfortunately we have too many zealots on both sides preventing the best outcome.

G. Gravelle
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Personally, if canadians want to shell out $1,400.00 out of their own pocket every time they want to see a doctor to receive medical treatment that is no better than what is provided through the health care system we already have, who am I to stop them?The majority of canadians don't take care of themselves; haven't seen a doctor in 10-15 years; and a good load of them diagnose themselves. A brother-in-law of mine [also a smoker] started experiencing symptoms 5 years ago and wasn't feeling well. Yet, he refused to see a doctor saying it was nothing serious - by the time he did see a doctor more than a year later, he was in terminal stage of bladder cancer and died 5 months later. Perhaps the fault lies less with the health care system but more with the individual.

kg1
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i absolutely love surveys! Why? Because you can manipulate them to say anything you want them to say. How many people were actually included in this survey? What were the questions asked? What options were those surveyed given. I for one do not support private health care and as stated by another pollster do not know of anyone who would.As far as the survey goes....yeah sure whatever

Darren S, Saskatoon
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I didn't realize that 56% of 2000 people made the decisions in Canada, here I thought we lived in a democracy where the masses spoke to the leaders to find ways to save and help each other. Maybe the Liberals should start paying back some of the money they OWE. 26 million people are going to have to pay because a poll said that we should...hahaha. the system is not broken, its just more convenient now to go and get minor work done than maybe ten years ago, when you would have grinned and beared it.Maybe I should go for a cleaning or checkup when ever I can instead of when I NEED to, at least I will feel better when I can't pay for it anymore.

Charlie
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Healthcare should be provided to all citizens. However to allow it to be given out based on your political affiliation or through nepotism is wrong. We need private health care to allow those that can afford it, to pay more and those that can not to get better care. The employees or ours we place in Parliament, just don't get it, cause they are ensured the best based upon their political contacts. As in the case of Soviet Russia they would rather us peons wait in line, than pay more to eliminate the lines. It is their way of feeling above their employers. They will never learn unless we tell them loudly. Failure is not acceptable just because it does not affect them! Let our employees in Ottawa know, private clinics makes everyones health care better, perhaps even theirs!

Rick in NB, Ste marie
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In the last 30 years i have spent 2 six week stints in the hospital. I was treated with the best TLC. Any time i have to see my doctor, i can get an appointment within 1 to 3 days. Emergency rooms are crowded, but it's that way in other countries. In short, i feel that we have an excellent system. There may be some real horror stories about our health system, but i haven't heard any. I think that some people just have to complain about everything., and i see their pen names daily.

Bill in BC
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This will enrage the loony left, but who cares how the service is delivered as long as the funding model (public) is carried on and the patients aren't paying as the door. Do they really thinnk doctors don't care about money? Get real.

Joyce (N.S.)
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Any privatization of our health care system will end up hurting the public system, as doctors and nurses will be diverted from the public system. The selfish who have lots of money will be in favor of this, but the general public are not. If they were willing to put the same amount of money into the public system, there would be shorter wait times. They are willing to pay $60,000 for an operation if they need one, but not $600. in taxes so that everyone who needs one (including themselves) can get it.

Jay-TO
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In principle I'd be open to private clinics if funded through public system but with anything of this nature, when you bring in private business there is always politicians willing to help out in excahnge for graft. It always happens. It will start innocently enough and the next thing you know some conservative with ties to US insurance companies with millionaire friends deregulates further and further until we have no public health system. It always happens. It creeps and pervades everything. This won't be the good thing it appears to be. Not with politicians looking out for themselves...always. Capitalism is not the solution to everything. Never has been as its to open to hijacking. Just look at the recession and what caused it.

Karl
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I find this kind of thinking a scary one . I am sure that with my curent job I could afford some sort of private health care insurance but sadly their are lots of poor working single parents and low income families and such that probably couldn't afford the insurance .

Of course I am not trying to say that our system is perfect but I think that the health care providers do the best they can . I am just glad that as of right now I do not have to stay awake at night thinking how I am going to pay for health care if I needed it later on .

Health care should be available to every single Canadain that needs it and I truly fear that if we move to a private system than it will be those that can afford it and those that can't and that would be a terible shame cause the ones that cant afford the health care will be the ones that are made to suffer .

CYL
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No objections to private health care as long as the wait times are sooner and shorter. Then there is the availability of doctors and nurses. The problem with our public health care is that it's open to everyone who should not be eligible to hold a healthcard. If more people start taking proper nutrition and excercise, instead of running to the doctor with a little ache and sniffle, there would be less crowds and more attention to the real sick. The government should also be a lot tighter in offering health cards.

Roger
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Now that is just the kind of thinking that is fostered by a group of people who can afford to pay to be one step ahead in line. If a government wishes to destroy a program, just reduce it's funding and tell everyone whats wrong with it now they it can nolonger meet the need. Neither left nor right just a concerned Canadian who wants equality in health care available to all; not just those that can afford it.

david sawkiw[saskatchewan farmer]
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I have to commend CTV for publishing this survey, rather than doing the socialist thing and covering it up.. The truth is the system is rapidly failing and no one wants to admit it. Yesterday, I talked to a waitress in smalltown saskatchewan,, she told me about her retired father[on very limited income] had broken his hip.. The local hospital could not help him,, they took him by ambulance to saskatoon,, the bill he now faces and CANNOT afford to pay,, is SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!! They are hounding him and threatening the daughter... So tell me,, how is this so different than the USA?? Saskatchewan,, birthplace of medicare................

Steve Doodah
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It is time to release the 500 million to Infoway so they can actually enable us to interact with the health care system and not just use it!

Steve T
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Good! Time to discard our outdated ideological views on healthcare, and look beyond North America for solutions. Yes, the American system is crap. But ours isn't great, either. What about a public/private blend, like they have in most other developed countries in the world? Forty years of the current system have proven one thing - dumping more money into a public-only system will not work. We need to try new things.

Anne in Gatineau
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Of course more Canadians are in favour... at this point, the HC system is so slow some folks are getting desperate. Lack of family doctors, long wait times... all getting us down. Frankly, from where I'm sitting, it seems like the provincial government is doing it on purpose for us to feel this way. They seem to be pushing clinics to the brink with lack of funding and resources. Clinic staff are at a breaking point and no longer seem to care for the sick. Obviously, public health care is no longer a priority for us (although it is for me) since we are not putting enough pressure on the Govt's to treat it as a priority.

Mike IN BC
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First, I would question the survey itself. It seems to me that I don't know of a single person that would support private health care. It's always suspicious when a survey is sponsored by a company or group who would benefit by the survey results leaning one way. Second, if we did privatize heath care you can be sure that the public system would become even worse than it is. For retirees like me who could not afford private health care this would be a disaster.

GTA
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Our hurry up and wait system is a joke. Firstly, there are too many Regional Health Boards - how about one per Province and putting the majority of our tax money into the front line part of our medical system and less to the bureaucrats. Private health care? Bring it on.

Doug in Dartmouth
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What Private Health Care would bring is new ideas, innovation, efficiencies, etc. The Public health care system needs to be challenged to be the best it can be. Competition works.

bruce in london
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We are finally waking up to the fact that our healthcare system is deteriorating. We also seem to recognize that state and union controlled care is not the answer. What we need now is political will to move on this near crisis .This will take a majority gov't for sure to counter the shrill cries from the left. If we don't move soon, more and more rationing will take place with longer and longer wait lists.