Where do you live? In Canada you have to be referred by a GP -- however if you know of a good dermatologist you can ask your GP to refer to him/her. If you don't have a GP call the local hospital/clinic and explain your situation; if no doctors are available in your area go directly to the hospital out patient or emergency department. Good luck.
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I hope Mariepop gives her perspective as well, but here's my two cent's worth. The Canadian system isn't perfect, but living in a small hamlet and knowing that if I become seriously ill I can be taken by helicopter to the hospital that specializes in whatever is wrong with me at no cost takes the worry out of the possibility of being ill.
My friend found her new husband via the Internet -- he is American has little use for Canada -- she moved down to live with him. A couple of year's ago he had to have a stent put in one of his arteries and his insurance covered $15,000 and he still owes $35,000. He has since established residency in Canada, they moved to a border town and he now has all his medical concerns looked after at no charge in Canada. My friend used to return to Canada every six months in order to access free medical service -- she said they could not afford the premiums for both of them. (She wasn't hurting money-wise). There is some pressure here to adopt the American style of health care == lots of private clinics popping up, but the regular Joe can't afford to access their service.
I will say that if you have the money, the American system would be better because you can access high tech medical help without waiting in line.
The same problem exists in Canada -- most Canadians could not access total medical assistance without paying high premiums therefore you would have some very sick people die simply because they can't afford to access the help they need.
There is a lot of abuse of the system here -- and if just half was fixed there would be better access and shorter waiting times and of course the cost would be lower.
I have no answers to the problem.
mariepop: I wasn't clear in expressing myself -- what I meant to say clearly is that if Canadians didn't have free health care most could not afford the high insurance rates
You are absolutely correct in saying that there is great abuse of the system. You have to experience it to believe what some people do -- I have gone to the ER which is supposed to be for emergencies and it's clogged with people who do not have anything more than a cold.
There is a shortage of doctors -- yet there are many qualified foreign doctors in Canada who cannot get a licence to practice even though they pass the exam. Also taxpayers subsidize medical students while they are in university -- yet they don't have to stay in Canada after they graduate -- they can choose to practice in any other country and where they can get the bigger bucks.
I injured my left knee when I was in my early twenties -- it has always been painful and has limited my ability to do a lot of things. Three year's ago I had a MRI and was told I needed a knee replacement -- no way I thought -- started on some herbal medications and I don't have any pain any longer -- I can walk for 3 hours with no problems. Go figure. I was told the wait time for a knee replacement was 3 months.
My niece returned to Canada from France about 4 year's ago after she had her first child -- I have no knowledge of the system there but she told me the French health system was not good. I can't comment on her accuracy.
In Ontario one statistic I saw was that there are over a half a million people with illegal health cards -- I'm sure it's the same in Quebec. So the abuse of the system means the cost is higher so the taxes are higher.
When you complain about taxation you have to have another model to compare it to, taxes may be lower somewhere else but maybe what they get in return is much less. for instance I now own a home that is the same size, and located in the same size community as one I lived in several year's ago. Where I now live, everything is extra on top of your property taxes. In comparing my present property taxes with my former home -- I'm paying $1,500 a year more for what?
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There was an article in one of the National papers yesterday about mothers coming to Canada to have their babies -- and leaving without paying ---- of course, the child becomes a Canadian citizen immediately --looking to the future?
So are they not paying there hospital fee, how checky too cause i suppose when the child grows up it will have a home where it mum originally came from and in Canada!There was an article in one of the National papers yesterday about mothers coming to Canada to have their babies -- and leaving without paying ---- of course, the child becomes a Canadian citizen immediately --looking to the future?![]()
I have heard though some horror storys from mums that have had babys under the NHS system here one of my friends for example was in labour for 4 days till they realised she could not give birth properly and gave her a c section!
I have heard too that immagration is becoming a problem in Canada as apparently this is why you guys are getting more problems too in the country?
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For the first time in years there are more people applying to enter Canada from Britain.I have heard too that immagration is becoming a problem in Canada as apparently this is why you guys are getting more problems too in the country?Shame really if it is true as i think canada is great city personally![]()
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The only problem I see with immigration from some countries is that they want all the benefits they can get but are not interested in Canadian values or the way of life -- little ghettos are springing up.
The immigration rules are quite strict -- but we have lots of illegals entering the country -- there is sort of an underground market for cheap labour. After a while they apply for citizenship hoping they will be admitted on humatarian grounds.
As far as values of one country to another -- I suppose you could say that --since we still recognize the monarchy and most of our governing system is based on the English model. However Canada is a huge country -- and there is much diversity both in nationality as well as personal values.
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