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A Canadian crisis in healthcare has reached the bubbling point as doctors in the country are beginning to express worrying concerns about health policies recently adopted by the state. Over 5 million Canadians, a staggering number, are reported to be without a family doctor. This comes at a difficult time for Canada as there has been an influx of newcomers regularly thanks to the country’s hospitable immigration policies.
Others argue that it is the provincial governments’ ineffective management of health resources that is responsible for the chaos even as some point fingers at the unnecessary burden of refugees on the system.
Terry L.(@dubsndoo) tweeted and later pulled it off the tweet saying:
Canadian doctors are ringing the alarm bells about the 5 million Canadians that don’t have a family doctor. That coincides nicely with the 5 million new refugees that Trudeau imported into Canada.
— terry l. (@dubsndoo) October 24, 2024
It would be impossible to find a bigger idiot to run Canada than Justin Trudeau.
Terry’s posts had over 40k views and brought forth a storm on social platforms.
Nevertheless, Fred Hickey, who is also on the Twitter handles with @fredhickey, countered and held provincial conservative governments responsible for the mishandling of the healthcare system. He argued:
Conservative provincial governments across the country have decimated healthcare the most dangerous place to live for healthcare right now is in any Conservative run province. They are privatizing our services to make their friends and themselves rich. Cons supporters are stupid.
— fred hickey (@fredhickey) October 26, 2024
There, on the other hand, Catherine Mulroney, @cathmulroney, said she does not agree with the idea, stressing the fact that there are not 5 million new refugees, hence the claim is deceptive.
This is just silly. For this to be legit you’d first have to have 5 million new refugees, which we don’t. Then you’d have to be able to map their locations onto those of the people without doctors. Nice try.
— Catherine Mulroney (@cathmulroney) October 25, 2024
Realities and Myths of Immigration
The settlement of five million refugees in Canada under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is debatable, but immigration is a key variable in the healthcare discussion. Data from the Canadian government shows that there have been fewer than 900,000 refugee influxes since the year 2015. Still, even with this lower number, new immigrants are looking for family healthcare practitioners.
Healthcare gaps in Canada had not been reported ever before exclusively churned issues because of immigration. With respect to family health practitioners, the average wait time for the appointment has increased due to capacity strains and this has prompted new patients to wait several months, even years, before seeing a doctor.
Frustration rose to a fever pitch for Marc-André Tudino (@TudinoAndre) when he commented:
I have a family doctor. She doesn't know that I have a family, and I have been waiting for over one month to be given an appointment, which I was told will probably be in January. I have not even been asked why I needed an appointment.
— Marc-André Tudino (@TudinoAndre) October 25, 2024
The Responsibilities of Provincial Governments in Healthcare Shortages
The present conflict is not just an immigration one, it is also the many systemic problems of the Provincial Health care systems in Canada’s context.
@dmand2008 remarked on the current Provincial healthcare policies:
It's the provinces. Alberta has wasted $10.7 Billion in 5 years. Also don't forget the $1.3 billion AIMCO lost in a questionable investment deal.
— Tami we are in this together (@dmand2008) October 24, 2024
It has been pointed out in several tweets that the rural population’s problems were even more pronounced in the case of a shortage of healthcare personnel. Another user Richard Towers (@RichardTowers98) showed their concern:
Haven't been able to get a family doctor in over 10 years, and i am true canadian born and raised and family was etc.
— Richard Towers (@RichardTowers98) October 25, 2024
For Immigrants and Other Marginalized Groups
Things are much worse for the newcomers in Canada. Most of the incoming immigrants, particularly recent ones, are waiting for weeks to get access to a family doctor or specialist. Many express their dissatisfaction on their social media accounts and even argue that wait times have become intolerable. Highlighting this problem, Nana0000 (@Nana00018487212) remarked:
Exactly. In canada we now wait for health care we just wait. Wait in emergency. Wait to see a specialist. Wait for surgery. Wait for any doctor. We wait and everyone says it’s just the way it is. How many people are dying while waiting??????? We will never know.
— Nana0000 (@Nana00018487212) October 25, 2024
Additionally, they often put new Canadians in a position of weakness because facing health problems in an unfamiliar country is never easy. Mr Truth Intelligencer (@IntelligencerMr) commented on this issue:
Those refugees don’t have a family doctor. The reason you don’t have doctors is because you need more to come and work in Canada. Places aren’t being taken by immigrants
— Mr Truth Intelligencer (@IntelligencerMr) October 26, 2024
The Need for More Services
The Canadian workforce including doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals in general is overpowered and unable to service a constantly increasing population. Due to excessive workload and stress, many healthcare practitioners are leaving the field entirely.
Ralph Furley (@CDNMikeZ) expressed his sentiments regarding these issues stating:
Important to note also, how many doctors have left this country since JT and his tax mad lunatics taxed them into oblivion.
— Ralph Furley (@CDNMikeZ) October 25, 2024
Socialized medicine is not sustainable for this population. It’s just not.
Possible Solutions to the Crisis
While the situation remains grave, some things can and have been proposed as viable solutions. A lot of people believe that the primary focus of the governments should be dedicated towards healthcare funding and adequate recruitment of healthcare professionals for the hospitals and clinics fully operating. Woody (@woodee4417) observed:
Weren't they bringing Dr's and engineers! Nope just low paid replacement for Canadian/Global companies to be subsidized to hire immigrants! Meaning more profits for companies and less for Canadians! FFS!
— Woody (@woodee4417) October 25, 2024
On the other hand, not all the doctors are in favor of this. Doctors feel that there is a sufficient amount of salary and supply of providers willing to work, they just need to change their line of work. Rather this will increase the scope of practice of nurse practitioners or other healthcare providers and would thus decrease the amount of workload falling upon doctors.
The Need for Reform
The health crisis in Canada serves as a case in point which is a cry for immediate change. The wait for a rational solution that would address the aspects of immigration, accessibility to healthcare, and resource management has come to an end. River City Ghost (@rivercityghost) was one of many who were frustrated stating:
If 5,000,000 existing Canadians who have been in Canada their entire lives never had a family Doctor, and 5,000,000 immigrants somehow were able to get a family Doctor – that's a skill issue.
— River City Ghost (@rivercityghost) October 25, 2024
You're an idiotic dipshit, terry.
While Canadians are arguing between themselves about the origins of the crisis and the ways to overcome this event, it is clear that the Canadian health system is at a very serious crossroads. Much of it is due to the influx of new immigrants in the last few years – without building the infrastructure – a mismatch between provincial and federal goals.
Last Updated on by Saket Kumar
