Breast Cancer Debate and Health Care in Canada

Ontario apparently has been in an uproar about Jill Anzarut, a 35 year old mom of 2 who was diagnosed with breast cancer, but was denied access to a medication her doctor prescribed by Cancer Care Ontario.  I suggest you read the linked column in defense of CCO's position, and Ms. Anzarut's comments (about 3rd from the top) in response to the columnist in the column's comments section that follows.

It was a really interesting conversation about supposedly universal health care in Canada.  Provinces make their own decisions, so this woman's case would have been handled differently in B.C., for example, instead of Ontario.  It's obviously a loaded and emotionally-fueled conversation about a mom with little ones. There was also a lot of suprisingly rational conversation about how much should a country pay for, and what is reasonable to pay for, in a universal health care situation.   When the health care debate was going on in the U.S., there was a lot of debate about "health care rationing," but insurance companies already make these decisions, and there is similar conversation here about how it is inevitable in any large scale insurance program.  This decision is on a macro level and has been taken public, which is what makes it more interesting.

We apply for our Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP) cards soon.  It will be an experience to use them. We were able to get in to see a doctor for our introductory appointment at the end of April. That was the earliest they had an intro appointment available.  An ominous start?