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Thought To Ponder "…the problem that is usually being visualised is how capitalism administers existing structures, whereas the relevant problem is how it creates and destroys them." |
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Rumours are that Prime Minister Christie wants the Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) Healthcare plan to be his legacy to the Bahamian people. He would like to be remembered for a job well done. However, he should not count on it. The BRC plan is too similar to the Canadian "plan" and will have similar outcomes. How good is Canadian Healthcare? Perhaps it is a good as it can be - as a government financed monopoly. But long waiting lists and shortages of physicians are the symptoms of a tragically flawed system. Prior to 1962 in Canada healthcare was not rationed as it is today. The sick were not turned away from hospitals and clinics if they could not pay. It is a different story in 2006. The Frontiers of Freedom Institute in 2002 printed an article titled "Access Denied: Canada's Healthcare System Turns Patients Into Victims". They refer to instances where patients die on the waiting list because they become too sick to tolerate a procedure. Their research describes shortages of doctors and shortages of equipment. An exodus of Canadian physicians to the US is the subject of an article last year in the New England Journal of Medicine titled "The Metrics of the Physician Brain Drain" which shows that Canada is a net loser of physicians and United States a net gainer. Research by AIM, the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies takes up the "Brain Drain" noting that "some degree of privatization" is required, that an "adequate" supply of health care requires a functioning market. The above are only a sampling of hundreds of reports by investigators into the Canadian system. There are differences between the BRC Plan and the Canadian system, but the core principle is the same. Both are government managed and controlled. What about the cost, and what about paying for it? Canada is among the highest cost "developed" countries for healthcare and Canadians also are among the highest taxed citizens. CBS news in March 2005 in an article "Canadian Health Care in Crisis" writes that Ontario spends roughly 40% of every tax dollar on healthcare. By 2035 it is slated to be 85%. Perhaps a country so rich in resources and a diversified economy can pay the price, however little Bahamas has but two main sources for income, tourism and financial services. It doesn't take rocket science to conclude the government's plan, based on the observable facts of how it "manages" existing programs will put the country in financial risk. Should either of the two principle sources, tourism and financial services suffer downturn, the legacy of the BRC Plan will be bankruptcy. It is not a legacy that a Prime Minister would be proud to leave. THE NASSAU INSTITUTE
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Comments
Rick Lowe - 3 November 2006 12:19- NHI
- Thanks for the comment.
It appears you are mixing issues here. NHI is Government taking over the health care industry - this is not a plan to take care of the poor.
If you are working you should buy your own health care plan and you and your other siblings should be helping your Grammy at this stage of her life - not the other way around.
You should note that based on the figures provided NHI will be cheaper for businesses than a private plan, but if you want improved health care I don't think that will come through the government. Look at public education, PMH, Bahamasair etc. They are all run by government and most Bahamians don't like the results.
Is that what you want to see with your health care?
Will Simmons - 3 November 2006 05:16- social healthcare
- health is a right not a consumer choice or luxury good for the rich only! Canadian health care is envied by the U.S, who leave their poor citizens to die, a road the Bahamas should not persue! do you really believe the clap trap about free markets applied to something as important as health! Free markets usually put health priorities last thats why people smoke, abuse alchohol, buy $300 tennis instead of school books for their kids. Dont insult Bahmians buy applying your money making schemes to something as essential as national health. No doubt your biggoted institution had the same views on national insurance, well hears some news, if my Grammy didn't get national insurance she wouldn't have her house, she wouldn't be able to pay asue, or help her 8 grown children who still periodically rely on her for help. NHI would recycle health expenditure in the health care system instead of private capitalist pocketing profits, i mean this is so basic and so clear that this opposition to NHI is from a interest group. well i will infrom you the Bahamas government should serve the interests of our people, not a group of insurance firm ceo's and other capitalists who can afford Doctors hospital or miami treatment.
Dr. Dexter Johnson Assistant Law Professor C.O.B. - 25 September 2006 14:46- Christie Legacy
- The National Health Insurance [tax] is the last of the original socialist plans of the foundation PLP adviser group of the sixties. In the 1980's the PLP toyed with starting it, but wiser heads prevailed. There is far less wisdom in the PLP today than in the past, a fact which the country is suffering for as seen in the misguided land policy. But greater suffering is to come as nothing will deter Christie and Nottage from forcing this down our throats. In a few short years after this Health tax is started they will bear our collective displeasure. That will be small comfort since by then the Health tax will be a major factor in initiating a severe economic decline and a possible devaluation of our dollar. The Health tax will inevitably increase and severely cripple the growth of every other government funded enterprise. It will be extremely difficult to recover from its economy killing effects.
See www.bahamianationalparty.com for more on this major threat to our economic health.
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