Staffing Shortages Are Not The Only Challenge Facing Health Care

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  • why cannot a NS resident have a procedure not available in NS or in restricted supply done in a foreign jurisdiction,personally pay the cost in that foreign jurisdiction and receive a rebate from the NS health care equal to the cost to have had it done in NS
    Personally I had a “Mohs treatment” done in the US this year–this is a treatment for benign skin cancer to prevent it becoming malignant.
    The treatment is not available at this time in NS–although I understand it may soon be as a qualified applicant (dermatologist) is attempting to satisfy requirements to receive a billing code or number
    My necessity to have the procedure is/was supported by a certificate from a qualified pathologist–it is not a procedure a person would have without need in any event.
    if this principle were applied to joint surgery by those who,by necessity or means can have procedures done in a foreign jurisdiction it would free up spaces for those who are more restricted in travel expenses.
    This is not really a complicated solution to a problem aggravated by narrow minded bureaucracy.

    bill f | May 24, 2019 | Reply

    • The problem is that this would blow the budget. In a single payer system the only way you can control the cost is by limiting the supply.

      Bill | May 25, 2019 | Reply

      • –and by limiting the supply the State is only offering health care on a “luck of the draw” basis instead of the “universal basis” so often referred to and loved by politicians.

        bill | May 25, 2019 | Reply

        • Universal means that everyone is covered. Supply is rationed. The system tries to make sure that the sickest people get the best care, not the richest.

          Bill | May 26, 2019 | Reply

      • hardly my definition or criteria for “universal equal health care” when supply is rationed.
        Seems I read somewhere that “we are all equal but some are more equal than others”

        bill | May 26, 2019 | Reply