Privatization of #Canadianhealthcare is touted as innovation—it isn’t. https://canadahealthwatch.ca/2024/02/15/privatization-of-canadian-healthcare-is-touted-as-innovation-it-isnt “According to health policy researcher Andrew Longhurst, data from Alberta demonstrates that increased #privatization of surgeries has not reduced #publichospital wait times, that it has actually diverted scarce health human resources from the public system, and has led to a 6% decline in surgical volumes across the province.”

#LetterOfTheWeek
Why people buy IPs? It’s a #longwait to see a specialist otherwise
"It’s not uncommon to wait up to 6mths to see a #specialist in a #publichospital when #referred by a #polyclinic .. If you have an Integrated Shield Plan (IP), you can choose & book a specialist.. To attract more to use only the #MediShield Life #insurance without IP coverage, the🇸🇬 #Ministry of #Health should #review & improve the #waiting time for #subsidised #patients to see specialists"
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-why-people-buy-ips-it-s-a-long-wait-to-see-a-specialist-otherwise

“Our analysis suggests if an extra 65,000 people buy #PrivateHealthInsurance, #PublicHospital #WaitingLists barely shift from the average 69 days. Waiting lists are an average just eight hours shorter.

In other words, we’ve used hospital admission and waiting-list data to show private health insurance doesn’t make much difference.” https://mastodon.social/@theconversationau/110963853029412856