[IWE] canadian healthcare to crack down on choice of doctor

[William Oxley]

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ 
ALeqM5iU70Zb1J3dfkdUUgjm0jav2aZP9A

"The federal government has essentially abdicated its responsibility  
to enforce the Canada Health Act and protect patients against extra  
billing and two-tier health care," said Mehra. "And no provincial  
government has set up adequate regulatory and enforcement regimes to  
fulfil their requirements to protect patients in their provinces."

There were numerous instances of for-profit clinics charging public  
plans as well as patients, as well as openly selling medically  
necessary services to people who will pay to "jump the queue," Mehra  
said.

Of the 89 alleged violations documented in the report, entitled  
"Eroding Public Medicare," 29 are in British Columbia, 41 in Quebec,  
11 in Ontario, seven in Alberta and one in Nova Scotia.

She said for-profit clinics made their appearance about a decade ago  
following deep slashes to health care in the 1990s. In the last five  
years, the increase has been "startling," said Mehra.

But a "decline" into an American-style system isn't inevitable, the  
report states, citing examples where governments have clamped down on  
for-profit clinics.