March 1, 2006
MORE AND MORE SPHERICAL:
Klein makes private health care move: Launcheds a major test of medicare rules (BOB WEBER, 3/01/06, CANADIAN PRESS
Alberta has launched a major test of medicare rules, with plans to allow private insurance, let patients pay for faster access to hip and knee replacements and to give doctors the right to work in both the public and for-profit systems.Posted by Orrin Judd at March 1, 2006 7:39 AMCritical reaction came quickly from Ontario, where Health Minister George Smitherman said Alberta's plans to let people pay cash to get to the front of the line are unfair and undermine medicare.
Smitherman also warned the proposal to let doctors work both in the public and private systems is "going to have very little effect except to leave a lot of abandoned patients behind in the public system."
But in Edmonton yesterday, Health Minister Iris Evans defended Premier Ralph Klein's so-called Third Way on health-care reform, saying it will keep the public system strong.
Slitherman, the Socialist, wants all to wait their turn, to be fair. If the Russians could wait in breadlines, Canadians can get with the program.
Posted by: Genecis at March 1, 2006 11:36 AMSlitherman? Is he a Hogworts alum?
Posted by: erp at March 1, 2006 1:50 PMYou bet Wyatt. Compliments on keeping up with the grandkids, as I'm trying to do.
Posted by: Genecis at March 1, 2006 8:23 PMTheir issue is not as much people jumping to the head of the line as much as Alberta electing to have multiple lines.
Posted by: Ptah at March 2, 2006 11:06 AM