"Jeffrey Simpson meets health care head on and explores the only four options we have to end this growing crisis: cuts in spending, tax increases, privatization, and reaping savings through increased efficiency. He examines the tenets of the Medicare system that Canadians cling to so passionately. Here, he finds that many other countries have more extensive public health systems, and Canadian health care produces only average value for money. In fact, our rigid system for some health care needs and a costly system for other needs - drugs, dentistry, and home care - is really the worst of both worlds. Chronic Condition breaks the silence about the huge changes and real choices that Canadians face"--From publisher description
Part One. 1. Hospital days -- Part Two. 2. Health care's early history -- 3. Medicare in Saskatchewan -- 4. The Father of Medicare -- 5. The Liberals and Medicare -- 6. The Canada Health Act -- Part Three. 7. How good is Medicare? -- 8. How much does Medicare cost? -- 9. Can efficiencies save Medicare? -- 10. Is private health care the answer? -- 11. Dr. Duval's opinion -- 12. Can we make ourselves healthier? -- 13. What does the public think? -- 14. What about other countries? -- Part Four. Remedies. 15. Doctors and nurses -- 16. Hospitals -- 17. Drugs -- 18. Conclusion.