Canadians prefer US health care over its own

Various hospitals in US in cities bordering Canada have tied up with Canadian Health care agencies to provide care not otherwise available in Canada.

Patients in Canada, especially requiring medical attention for heart, imaging tests, bariatric or other similar services tend to prefer medical facilities in US rather than in Canada. Even Canada too tends to rely on support from facilities in US rather than building its own systems.

Various patients surveyed appeared happy over the medical treatment facilities available for, now a days, common ailments as angioplasty, leukemia, cancer, bone marrow transplant etc. The bills have been taken care of by Canadian health Care.

The Karmanos Institute is one of several Detroit health facilities that has come up as one of the favorite for Canadians citizens seeking immediate health care facilities. Canada has waiting times that can stretch up to more than five years for bariatric procedures.

Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in April designated 13 U.S. hospitals, including five in Michigan and one more with a tentative designation, to perform bariatric surgery for Canadians.

Dr. J. Edson Pontes, senior vice president of international medicine at the Detroit Medical Center, at a recent conference meeting said that In the last few years, their hospital has seen more Canadian patients whose care is reimbursed by Canada's health system.

This is a great help to Canadians who pay out of pocket or to avoid waiting in Canada.

Opinion in Canadia is divided over it. While, some feel that the system doesn't work if they have to send us their patients, others feel that such arrangements are a terrific way to manage capacity given Canada's smaller health care budget.