OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected]. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is in response to a letter regarding public and private health care, published Jan. 17.
Mr. Todd Sullivan delivered in his letter Jan. 17 a fiery defence of surgery in private, for-profit clinics.
What Mr. Sullivan wrote is correct and applicable as long as such clinics remain an insignificant part of the health system but not the complete story if these clinics become a significant part of the medical service.
We have private, for-profit schools, but they have no great impact on the public school system because of the small student enrolment. However, in the case of the clinics there is distinct possibility that these private services become a significant part of the health services, particularly if private insurance companies through employers enter the field, which will change the situation.
If and when the for-cash medical services delivery becomes a significant part of the medical services, the lobbyists and activists will put the pressure on the provincial government to divert money from the public health system to other causes. This, then, will result in a lower-quality public service. At the same time, the impression that the public medical service is for people who have failed to earn good money will be spread in the society. The end result is more friction in the society and poorer service for many people.
In the light of the above, I ask, why take the risk? I recommend sticking to public, not-for-profit health delivery, putting more money into the field and raising taxes if necessary.
Konrad Brenner
Ramara
