There are virtually no waits for emergent coronary artery surgery in Canada, though elective cases face delays, particularly with the surgeons held in highest regard. Interestingly, though Canadian MI patients receive substantially fewer invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, death and reinfarction rates are comparable in the two nations. Hence even the modest limitations on care seen in Canada are unlikely here. Surveys show that Canadian doctors are far happier with their system than we are with ours. Fewer than 300 out of Canada's 50,000 physicians emigrate to the U.S. each year, and a survey of doctors who have practiced in both nations shows a clear preference for the Canadian system.
Surveys show very high patient satisfaction in Canada.
Canadian physicians' income are comparable, in most specialties, to those in the U.S., and have kept pace with inflation for the past 25 years. It is perhaps comforting to know that Canada's highly regarded and efficiently managed health system is run by a government no more competent nor popular than our own. Many of us have negative feelings toward government, and examples of government inefficiency and incompetence abound. Yet the record of private insurers is far worse. Moreover, Medicare treats doctors and patients more respectfully than most private insurers, funds virtually all residency training, and pays Massachusetts hospitals higher rates than do most HMOs.