CMA Prepares to Pave the Way to Private Healthcare

The Canadian Medial Association elected Brian Day as president. This is a doctor who had only very recently attended his first meeting of the BC Medical Association and who runs a private orthopedic clinic. It is horrible that the CMA would elect a person devoted to tearing down the system that cares for the people of Canada. This proves that a majority of doctors in Canada care more about making a better buck than caring for Canadians.

Doctors may rationalize their support for private healthcare in a parallel system by saying that it would relieve the stresses on the public system, but this is bogus. The reductions in the public waiting times due to people receiving private care would be more than cancelled out by the increased delays due to fewer doctors practicing in the public system. The creation of a parallel private system, and the accompanying programmes of private health insurance would also pave the way for the influx of American "Health Management Organizations" and private hospital chains into the Canadian system.

The actions of the CMA are the thin edge of the wedge of the end of private healthcare. The CMA should recognize that they are making a mistake. They are eventually going to build up increasing resentment against them among the public that will not benefit from a private heathcare and who will recognize the avarice and greed of the majority of doctors when the public healthcare system melts down. Strong action must be taken now to keep this from happening. The government must recognize that doctors are a self-interested lobby and should not be listened to on this issue.

Cheers,


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