Page 8 – <strong>Kerby</strong> News – August 2013Canadaʼs healthcare not keep<strong>in</strong>g upBy Doug FirbyCanadians either love or hatetheir public healthcare system.But what do they really knowabout how it compares on the<strong>in</strong>ternational stage?Compar<strong>in</strong>g the healthcaresystems employed <strong>in</strong> countriesaround the world feels like amug’s game. It is <strong>in</strong>crediblycomplex because of the <strong>in</strong>f<strong>in</strong>itevariables that come <strong>in</strong>to play.How does one properly weighsuch factors as cost per capita,measured outcomes, mortalityrates and satisfaction? Anyresult is open to challenge.But the InternationalHealthcare Report Card, preparedby the Ipsos poll<strong>in</strong>g firmon behalf of Reuters News,took a simpler and more manageableapproach. It lookedat 15 countries, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>gCanada, and measured theperceptions of the patientsthemselves on whether accessand patient experience hadimproved <strong>in</strong> the past five years.And the answer forCanada’s health systemdefenders is not good news.More than 12,000 <strong>in</strong>dividualsresponded to the surveys <strong>in</strong>countries from around theWho will pay foryour funeral expenses?✔ Pays immediate CASH at time of need!Up to $15,000.✔ Protects aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>in</strong>flation!✔ Plans <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> value.✔ Accepted by funeral directors everywhere.❑❑❑• Use an <strong>in</strong>sect repellent with DEET.• Wear light-coloured long-sleevedshirts and pants, and a hat.• Consider stay<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>doors at dawn anddusk when mosquitoes are most active.world, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Argent<strong>in</strong>a,Japan, Belgium, Australia, theUnited Sates, and most ofthe European countries. Theywere asked questions abouthow much easier is it to accesshealthcare services than it wasfive years ago, and how theirexperience <strong>in</strong> the system comparesfor the same time period.Overall, the average of thescores suggests that therehave been improvements onboth measures, but somecountries outperformed whileothers were <strong>in</strong> the tank.Just like the once-ridiculedautomobiles they produce,✔ No medical required!✔ Travel plan assistance.✔ Low monthly premium rates to fit any budget✔ Plans available to age 85✔ Serv<strong>in</strong>g Canadians s<strong>in</strong>ce 1963.Call (403) 257-2279 for more <strong>in</strong>formationor visit our website at www.purpleshield.caA+ rat<strong>in</strong>gSouth Korea has emerged asthe w<strong>in</strong>ner of most improvedon both access to specific servicesand on the experience. Itwas followed by Argent<strong>in</strong>a,Japan and Belgium. Perhapssurpris<strong>in</strong>gly, Poland andAustralia also ranked well forimproved patient experience.At the bottom of the scale,the f<strong>in</strong>ancial basket case,Spa<strong>in</strong>, came <strong>in</strong> dead last –patients there reported thatboth access and experiencehad decl<strong>in</strong>ed drastically <strong>in</strong> thepast five years. While theaverage score of all 15 countrieswas +130 po<strong>in</strong>ts,Spa<strong>in</strong>’s was a devastat<strong>in</strong>g -372 po<strong>in</strong>ts – far and awayworse than its 14 comparators.That score earned it theonly F <strong>in</strong> the group of 15.Hungary was second last, andItaly third last, show<strong>in</strong>g thatthe European nations overallwere on the negative side ofthe ledger. That <strong>in</strong>cludesFrance, Great Brita<strong>in</strong> andSome mosquitoes carry the West Nile virus,so it’sbest to avoid be<strong>in</strong>g bitten at all.For more <strong>in</strong>formation and tips, visit fightthebite.<strong>in</strong>foor call Health L<strong>in</strong>k Alberta at 1-866-408-5465. 465.even Sweden, often heraldedas a model socialist example.Where was Canada? Itranked n<strong>in</strong>th, with a score of105 po<strong>in</strong>ts. The authors characterizedthat as a B-. Whatthat means is that it hasn’timproved at near the degreeof the eight other countriesranked above it. Even theoften-criticized U.S. healthcaresystem was ranked asmore improved, pull<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>199 po<strong>in</strong>ts and earn<strong>in</strong>g a B+.There are some importantth<strong>in</strong>gs to keep <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d whenconsider<strong>in</strong>g this survey. First,it measured the users’ perceptionsof the system, whichisn’t as objective a measureas statistics, such as mortalityrates, for example. Secondly,it is not a rank<strong>in</strong>g of the“best” system, but rather themost improved. As any highschool underachiever can tellyou, be<strong>in</strong>g voted mostimproved does not qualifyyou to be valedictorian. Butthere are troubl<strong>in</strong>g issues forCanadian policy makers toconsider. Health care, likemost modern services, isdriven by technological<strong>in</strong>novation. If you are notconstantly <strong>in</strong>novat<strong>in</strong>g andadopt<strong>in</strong>g best practices,someth<strong>in</strong>g that might havebeen considered first-ratejust two or three years agobecomes tired and old-hattoday. Just ask the beleagueredfolks at BlackBerrywho didn’t th<strong>in</strong>k they had tokeep up with the iPhone.As an ag<strong>in</strong>g populationputs new pressures on ourhealthcare system, stay<strong>in</strong>gahead of the game willrequire us<strong>in</strong>g emerg<strong>in</strong>gtechnology to ga<strong>in</strong> new efficiencies.As research byCanada Health Infoway hasshown, the use of electronicmedical records is just onesuch obvious <strong>in</strong>novationthat will improve service ata susta<strong>in</strong>able cost.The onus falls back on thegovernments which controlnot only the budgets, but alsothe strategic directions of ourhealthcare systems. It’s timefor them to realize that eightcountries, at least, are gett<strong>in</strong>gbetter at this essential servicefaster than we are.We would be well servedto visit some of those countriesnow, explore what theydid to br<strong>in</strong>g about suchimprovements, and considerwhether some of those ideascan be implemented here. Tome, that’s a much healthierexercise than the never-end<strong>in</strong>gdebate over public versusprivate systems. Let’sput the ideology aside, andfocus on what will make oursystem better for everyone.Doug Firby is Editor-<strong>in</strong>-Chief and National Affairscolumnist for Troy Media
August 2013 – <strong>Kerby</strong> News – Page 9