Medicare Decisions by Concensus

In the next 10 years, a large number of doctors and health care professionals will retire. For sake of argument let put this at approximately half of the health care professionals (doctors, nurses, paramedical, etc.) . In this same period, as demographic aging of Canada occurs, the amount of health care needed will double. If we currently have long waiting lists, a non-responsive system, what will it be like when there is twice as much care needed and only half the resources ? Currently health care costs are soaring, and health care quality is questionable. Simple arithmetic here suggests at least a doubling of health care costs over next 10 years, but more likely we looking at four times the cost. Can the Canadian Patient wait 4 times longer?

One response to this crisis has been the suggestion to move to a more American type system with private health care and to disband our public health system. However, United States leads the world in the most costly health care, and they aren't anywhere near the top in terms of quality of care, and health of their population.

Thus the challenge is what can be done to improve the health care system. What really is the root causes of the problems in our health care environment? Why are costs soaring? Why are doctors and nurses unhappy? Why are patients waiting and waiting, and why are there so many quality problems in the health system? What is the solution?

This site is dedicated to exploring this challenge and discussing ideas around health care reform.

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