Universal Healthcare Message to Americans

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It's an 8 minute video, but well worth the watch. I would like to see references to the data that the experts talk about in the video.

http://www.leaderpost.com/health/Canadians...6876/story.html

SASKATOON — Some Saskatchewan health-care experts and advocates are diving headfirst into America's bruising debate over public health care, with a new video intended to puncture myths about the Canadian system being spread by opponents of so-called "socialized medicine."

An eight-minute video running on YouTube — which racked up more than 22,000 views as of Thursday afternoon — features people such as former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow, physicians and researchers speaking directly to Americans about Canada's history of health reform.

"If they want to use our system as a whipping boy in their own propaganda wars, it's mildly irritating," said Saskatoon health and policy researcher Steven Lewis in the video, titled Universal Health-Care Message to Americans From Canadian Doctors and Health Care Experts.

In the video Romanow, who headed the Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, said the myths have been perpetuated by insurance company lobbyists.

"(Canadians) object to the misrepresentation, mischaracterization of the Canadian system by American opponents," said Romanow.

"The Canadian Health Act tapped into Canadians' emotions. The response Canadians are having now to the battle that's going down in the United States taps into Canadian emotions."

Produced by two Saskatoon men, Don Kossick and Steve Wolfson, the video was shot during the Canadian Medical Association's annual meeting in Saskatoon this month.

With a side event for Canadian Doctors for Medicare running parallel to the association's meeting, Kossick found no shortage of health professionals wanting to speak out for Canadian health care, flaws and all.

"I had hoped our government would have something like this," said Kossick. "It kind of walked away from the debate."

The video is getting a lot of positive feedback from Americans who say they're grateful to hear the other side. That success has Kossick and Wolfson thinking about a followup.

"We certainly going to look at a larger version," said Kossick. "Americans really want to hear the Canadian story."

A large chunk of the story is the economic tale. Much of the American debate has focused on the possible increased cost associated with universal health care.

In Canada, the cost per capita of health-care spending is $300, compared to $1,000 per person in the States, said Dr. Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.

"And everyone here is covered," she said in the video.

The 25th anniversary for the Canadian Health Act is a time Canadians should be pushing their story into the American debate, said Dr. Ryan Meili, Canadian Doctors for Medicare board member and former NDP leadership candidate. He said it's been tough to watch the debate south of the border.

"You should worry about the best care possible for a patient, not the dollar," he said in a phone interview.

jjwarren@sp.canwest.com

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Thanks for posting this.

[CanAmCharlotte 0]

Good stuff. Personally, I'm getting tired of defending Canada's Healthcare system to all and sundry. Maybe I'll just send this to everyone I know! Thanks for posting!

[trailmix 77]

I saw that the other day, it's a good video. It's a shame that the great American fear mongering machine is at full speed with this issue - it clouds it and doesn't help to get the changes that need to be made - done.

[Bern. 3]

Very good.

[Krikit 1,164]

I watched that the other day in Rebeccajo's thread. Very informative and well thought out.