Public Health in Canada a 'Tragic' Experience? - Sally Pipes

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/10/26/Dispelling_US_Healthcare_Myths_Sally_Pipes

Pacific Research Institute CEO Sally Pipes draws from the story of her mother's illness to describe the pitfalls of the Canadian healthcare system. Pipes argues that the average wait time in Canada to see a medical professional is 17.3 weeks, and claims that 30,000 Canadians travel to the US annually to receive medical care.

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Inundated with medical terminology and ill equipped to navigate the options available, most people probably could use a little health-care-system guidance.

With extensive experience in the field and an at-times controversial outlook, Pipes brings her knowledge to the public, breaking down the myths about health care and getting straight to the facts. - Commonwealth Club of California

Sally C. Pipes is president and chief executive officer of the Pacific Research Institute, a San Francisco-based think tank founded in 1979. Prior to becoming president in 1991, she was assistant director of the Fraser Institute, based in Vancouver, Canada.

Pipes addresses national and international audiences on health care, women's issues, and the economy.

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[waynewin]

Who is this woman? What a bunch of bull - I'm Canadian, 64 years old and know the cdn system well. These "FACTS" she is barfing up are pure garbage. Sorry to hear about her mom getting poor care but I guess no one in the US is ever misdiagnosed and no one in the US ever dies. I have cancer, received immediate attention (chemo, radiation) and am doing OK now. Where does the GOP (see - I know something about US politics) find these people?

[RuleofFive]

@Knoss The American Govt (through taxpayer support) funds the NIH (Natl. Institute of Health) actually starts the research and development of drugs for diseases the pharmaceutical industry won't because there's no profit potential. Big Pharmaceuticals also take the research from the NIH and use it to make they argument that they need high prices do to their incredible research costs. Don't be fooled that all the research and development is private sector. It not. 

[RuleofFive]

@Knoss The American Govt (through taxpayer support) funds the NIH (Natl. Institute of Health) actually starts the research and development of drugs for diseases the pharmaceutical industry won't because there's no profit potential. Big Pharmaceuticals also take the research from the NIH and use it to make they argument that they need high prices do to their incredible research costs. Don't be fooled that all the research and development is private sector. It not.

[RuleofFive]

Sally Pipes represents the Pacific Research Institute which is a conservative think tank. No surprise this is her take on Canada. Canada does not have perfect health care but it does NOT have 50 million people without access to any medical care like the US does. Her same group advocates for the dismantling of Medicare/Medicaid which helps millions of poor and elderly in this country and is their only access to medical care.

[MsZeitgeist85]

I am really dissapointed that the California CommonWealth Club would give this crackpot speaking time.

Sally Pipes is a proven liar.

[gibblets17]

@cominatrix i dont know about you but im not waiting a month to get my flu dealt with or my foot injury. i live in america and if i get the flu or sick or hurt i can be in my private doctors office the next morning at the latest. the wait then takes 10 minutes. and treatment about as long too. and it only costs minimal compared to the taxes that will happen in a socialized system.

[stama9]

@Knoss Yeah, they're called safety regulations and they're put there for a reason. The drugs are also much cheaper in Canada than the U.S. which is why recently there was talk of re-importing drugs into the U.S. from Canada, which means you can get just about anything in the Cdn market that you could on the U.S. market.

Also, half of the worlds biggest pharma companies are in the E.U. Y'know, the world's largest market that also provides Med.care and price controls for its people.

[Knoss]

@RastafariPoet Don't forgett the governemnt plays a big role in US healtcare with over 50% of the money coming from government. California also has CON laws which prevent the construction of new hospitals. Also many people are in the ER because it is free.

[Knoss]

@euphfellowship Hispanics are the poorest segment of American society but have the longest life expectancy and lowest infant mortality.

[Knoss]

@stama9 Canada is behind the US in drug development. The American pharmecutical industry is a leader in producing new drugs. Because of regulation Canada has far less development and new drugs often don't come onto the market after they have been in the us for several years.