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The aging population and increasing incidences of acute and chronic illnesses has been contributing to the long queues in the system with other factors weighing heavily on how to manage these demands. An article posted by the Council of Canadians, which you can find under resources on this site, identifies that frequently, doctors and clinics are working against the Health act by requesting and offering fees for services that are either better than, faster, or both, for people willing to pay the high costs. Offering services at a cost, when they are medically necessary, is a tantalizing idea for those who want to know now what is "wrong" with them. Average wait times for comprehensive testing being months long, is ridiculous and encourages this behavior. The system is negatively impacted by the line jumpers, though I personally know a few who have benefited from taking the leap, as we cannot support both systems while maintaining quality care for the public health sector. As a Registered Nurse, I work in the public system where frequently people are looking to kick the patient/client out of bed to get the next person in. The article by the Council of Canadian's states, "Canada Health Act relies on federal spending powers to establish a Canada-wide, publicly funded health care system that bases patients’ access to health care services on need, not on the ability to pay." In doing this the system can get what it needs, funding, staffing and equipment. by side stepping the system problems such as shortages in nursing, become and are now, a reality, not because there aren't any positions, but rather, there is lack of funding to support those openings. Managers do what they have to in order to meet budgets. However, they are often left to fill the voids with overtime hours, resulting in higher costs to the system, and overworked nurses. There is an example of this in another article I have added to my resources in the Pocket tab. Have a read and think about the impacts that these shortages can have to your loved ones in care, or your tax dollars, and the ability for a nurse to have a long healthy career. Reform needs to happen in the Canadian Health Act. This is not to say that there should be more privatization, or a healthy mending of both, instead, proper allocation to resources, perhaps even incentives programs to keep professionals excited for the public sector and harsh consequences for those who impede the system. I wondered, while reading these articles, what are the consequences of clinics, and doctors who blatantly ignore Canada's Health Act? Keep an eye for more posts on that soon!