Free healthcare for everyone
Canada scores well with "Medicare", the health care system for all - more or less like the British NHS (National Health). At least, the principle is commendable. The implementation leaves much to be desired, especially in the last ten years.
The system is groaning under financial worries and a lack of skilled workers. There are huge waiting lists for many procedures, so that the pressure on patients and staff is actually increasing.
It is also striking that many medical treatments remain uncovered. This varies, more or less, from province to province. For the dentist, for medicines and for psychological help, people are often not covered. Even for an ambulance, you still have to pay yourself here and there.
A waiting list for the GP and a hospital that is suddenly closed for a weekend.
And more of that kind of stuff.
Millions of Canadians don't have a family doctor. If you move, you're screwed. If you immigrate, you can't find a doctor. But even if you do have a family doctor and he or she retires, there's simply no one else who can take over.
There are some day clinics, but they are generally full as soon as they open their doors.
The emergency department at the hospital cannot cope with the pressure and sometimes keeps patients waiting for 12 hours.
Many emergency services remain unmanned and simply have to close down for a while.
Specialist help is usually a long time coming. Even for a first consultation with a specialist, it can be months or even years of waiting.
Even fairly simple procedures such as MRI are rationed. There is a severe shortage of equipment but also of skilled personnel. The waiting time can be months and even longer if the matter is not too urgent.
Anyone who needs an operation ends up on a waiting list. It can take years before it's your turn.
Mopping with the tap open
Attracting skilled workers from abroad
While Canada is already trying to attract trained nurses, doctors and other professionals from other countries (such as the Philippines), far too few study places are being made available to ever solve the shortage locally.
It is more cost-effective to hire already trained professionals than to develop expensive training courses yourself.
It is remarkable that quite a few Canadian doctors and nurses are now moving to other countries (especially the US). There they can earn more and the workload is less.
Many professionals are put off by Canada's old and dirty hospitals. Read more about it here (link).