Clinton on Health Care of Canada
TORONTO (CP) - They were in town to discuss economics and humanity but it was Canada's health-care system the audience wanted advice about.
Asked about the growing interest by some for a privatization of the health-care system, former U.S. president Bill Clinton said Monday night that Canadians should think long and hard before making any move. "Whatever you do, there's no such thing as a perfect system," the charismatic leader told the approximately 250 dinner guests, which included Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and businessman Conrad Black, attending the inaugural World Leaders Forum.
But Clinton said the last thing anyone would want to do is let the "health care finance tail wag the health care dog."
He said America did just that and the system is a mess.
He said the U.S. spends 34 per cent of its health-care costs on administration, equalling $280 billion "to pay two million people to go to work every day for all the providers and insurers and play tug-of-war."
"It is insane," said Clinton. "It is a colossal waste of money. Don't go down that road. Don't do anything that will lead to increased administrative costs."
By comparison, Canada spends 19 per cent on administration, Clinton said.
He was joined by Israeli Vice-Premier Shimon Peres at a $3,000-a-plate fundraiser at Toronto's tony Windsor Arms hotel. Monies raised will benefit Ontario's Pine River Institute, a teen recovery program, and Israel's Nano Technology Research.
During his speech, the former president spoke eloquently and passionately on a range of topics including interdependence among countries, the threat of a pandemic flu and peace in the Middle East.
But it was Canada's health system that peaked the crowd's interest. Clinton played to the crowd, returning to the health care topic before answering a question about AIDS.
He suggested the government set up a task force to examine whether other counties, including Germany, Norway and Denmark, were successful at integrating some privatization of health services.
"Surely there's somebody that's figured out how to solve this problem that bothers so many Canadians," said Clinton.
"I know there are problems with this system. But you can't imagine what it's like (for us)."
Peres had a more optimistic outlook on privatization - only for a much different application.
"Since we've privatized so many parts of our life, why not privatize peace as well," he said in his speech, suggesting that big business does a better job of thinking on a more integrated, global scale than governments do.
Reference: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/15052006/2/national-clinton-warns-canadians-against-letting-finance-tail-wag-health.html
Asked about the growing interest by some for a privatization of the health-care system, former U.S. president Bill Clinton said Monday night that Canadians should think long and hard before making any move. "Whatever you do, there's no such thing as a perfect system," the charismatic leader told the approximately 250 dinner guests, which included Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and businessman Conrad Black, attending the inaugural World Leaders Forum.
But Clinton said the last thing anyone would want to do is let the "health care finance tail wag the health care dog."
He said America did just that and the system is a mess.
He said the U.S. spends 34 per cent of its health-care costs on administration, equalling $280 billion "to pay two million people to go to work every day for all the providers and insurers and play tug-of-war."
"It is insane," said Clinton. "It is a colossal waste of money. Don't go down that road. Don't do anything that will lead to increased administrative costs."
By comparison, Canada spends 19 per cent on administration, Clinton said.
He was joined by Israeli Vice-Premier Shimon Peres at a $3,000-a-plate fundraiser at Toronto's tony Windsor Arms hotel. Monies raised will benefit Ontario's Pine River Institute, a teen recovery program, and Israel's Nano Technology Research.
During his speech, the former president spoke eloquently and passionately on a range of topics including interdependence among countries, the threat of a pandemic flu and peace in the Middle East.
But it was Canada's health system that peaked the crowd's interest. Clinton played to the crowd, returning to the health care topic before answering a question about AIDS.
He suggested the government set up a task force to examine whether other counties, including Germany, Norway and Denmark, were successful at integrating some privatization of health services.
"Surely there's somebody that's figured out how to solve this problem that bothers so many Canadians," said Clinton.
"I know there are problems with this system. But you can't imagine what it's like (for us)."
Peres had a more optimistic outlook on privatization - only for a much different application.
"Since we've privatized so many parts of our life, why not privatize peace as well," he said in his speech, suggesting that big business does a better job of thinking on a more integrated, global scale than governments do.
Reference: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/15052006/2/national-clinton-warns-canadians-against-letting-finance-tail-wag-health.html
posted by Noel J | 11:53 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home