Few people have done more to raise the issue of medical wait times than Dr. Brian Day. Recently, the Canadian Medical Association which Dr. Day heads, published a study showing that long waits for medical care cost the Canadian economy $14.8 billion in 2007. The report shows that the federal and provincial governments failed to collect $4.4 billion in taxes because Canadians were waiting for health care. The economic value of this lost revenue is the equivalent of 40 per cent of Ontario's health budget.

”Our system was built to meet the needs of the underprivileged. It is now failing both them and everyone else, because it has not adapted to the times. Canada must learn from countries outside North America. Countries that have universal care, no wait lists and health care budgets that are the same or less than ours. Forcing patients to endure pain and suffering in order to sustain a social program is wrong," the CMA chief said.

The private versus public debate is largely irrelevant and counterproductive. It is not about private or public, it is about patient care.

Hence the question: Shouldn’t Canadians have the right to choose?

Join us Monday May 13, for the FORUM 2008 opening plenary when the President of the Canadian Medical Association will speak on the current state of the Canadian healthcare system and provide his thoughts on a possible cure.
Join us ›› Register today!

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