The problem with "healthcare problems"

Today, a local radio talk show was asking listeners "Do you think that Universal Health Care can work, or is a two tier system the way to go?"

According to the the Edmonton Sun, the NDP will introduce a bill to prohibit new private health care clinics in Canada.

Yes Canada has healthcare problems.

The problem is that the true issue remains hidden behind the rhetoric.

Canadians simply do not have adequate health care resources.

The problem is compounded by the fact that we exist in a global economy with a worldwide shortage of medical personnel.

Simply, doctors, nurses and other medical professionals' time need to be more focussed on practicing their crafts. Period.

How? Increased efficiencies, electronic medical records, proper allocation of resources (Why on earth does my GP take my blood pressure and weigh me?) are just some means to this end. Certainly there are many "Best Practices" which ought to be brought to the forefront and implemented throughout the system.

We are allowing ourselves to lose sight of what is important. People's health and wellbeing. Today, people die for lack of resources. When the healthcare system fails the Hypocratic oath of Above all, do no harm we are truly deceiving ourselves if we think that endless debate over private/public will have any positive impact.

Target energy and money on figuring out how our limited pool of physicians and nurses can assess and treat more patients and we will see the waiting lists shrink.