Come and Get it! Free Healt Care for All!

[DanaC]

However, 10% of knee replacement patients wait 21 months or more, while 10% of hip replacement patients wait 15 months or more.

And what percentage of an equivalent American contingent had to wait indefinately whilst they argued with their insurance providers? What percentage of an equivalent American contingent were not able to access treatment at all, because they had no insurance cover?

These arguments against socialised medicine only really stack up if the alternative system results in treating a higher percentage of people faster and better. If, as is the case in America, many millions of people are without health insurance, and several million will go without needed medical care because of a lack of insurance, or a lack of co-operation by the insurance companies, then pointing at the much smaller percentage of Canadians or British who go without needed care (or have to wait several months for operations) is a little disingenuous.