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Canadians still waiting: 18-week delay for medical care reduced by a day
Large increases in health-related spending have only marginally reduced the waiting times for medical services in this country from record-high levels in 2004, a new report says.The average delay shortened by about a day from last year's 17.9 weeks, the highest number since the Fraser Institute started issuing annual reports on the topic in 1990. Queues in some areas have shortened, but wait times for joint replacements and other orthopedic surgery -- one of the most backlogged and scrutinized services -- actually lengthened by two weeks, says the think-tank in its survey of specialists. baby boomers getting older "This is occurring in spite of dramatic increases in health spending the last three or four years," said Nadeem Esmail, senior analyst with the conservative organization. "The provinces are spending more and more and more on health care, and the wait times are stalling out." The results come as provincial health ministers prepare to meet this weekend to discuss the delay problem, viewed by many as the top priority for improving the troubled health care system. Mr. Esmail said the only way to tackle backlogs is to introduce competition from the private sector, as exists in most European countries. But other experts said yesterday there is no evidence that private medicine is the secret to speedier care.Oh, no - certainly not. RTWT at the link Posted by: too true 2005-10-19 |
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