Re: Editorial cartoon, Feb. 21.
Our health care system is a monopoly with inherent corruption and inefficiencies. Defenders of this deficient system want to maintain the status quo in our government-controlled increasingly unsustainable health care system. People are suffering severe pain while have having to wait for necessary orthopedic surgery for more than a year or two. Not surprising, use of dangerous pain-killing drugs while waiting for surgery cause further damage to essential organs.
Defenders of the status quo like to compare the dual private and government insurance option with the scary health care costs in the U.S.A. Instead, we should look to the Netherlands where per-person costs are comparable to Canada, while there are no long waiting lists for either private or public services.
In 2015 the Netherlands maintained its No. 1 position at the top of the annual European health consumer index. Moreover, among major developed countries, Canada ranks in second last place ahead of the United States when it comes to efficiency in the delivery of health care.
The Netherlands has the right policy, freedom, timely and affordable healthcare services whether through private or public resources. It is time for Canada to emulate the best-in-class.
Anthonie den Boef
Nanoose Bay