Canadian Economy
By: Anna • Essay • 682 Words • January 4, 2010 • 1,069 Views
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To be able to enjoy the benefits of maintaining personal health and prolonging life is a natural instinct instilled within every human being at birth. For this reason, health care should be available to each Canadian citizen, as a right. Privatizing health care transforms this right into a privilege to those wealthy enough to afford it. In accordance with the principle of utilitarianism, it is in Canada's best interest to continue the implementation of the current public health-care system. Adequate health care is a human right, it brings benefits to the economy and it is financially accessible to those who require medical attention on a daily basis.
The possibility of sudden illness is an inclusive matter and economic status is not one of the criteria. In other words, sickness can strike anyone at any point in time, regardless of income. Consequently, in a public health care system, the less fortunate have the chance to combat such inconvenient turn of events: an opportunity, otherwise unavailable under the implementation of private health care. In addition, car accidents and work-related injuries are not uncommon for the average, urban Canadian citizen. Similarly to illness, these events are also inclusive and random. Specifically, the victims of work-related injuries are likely to be found at the lower end of the socio-economic ladder. These victims have the right to a prompt, affordable treatment. In addition, privatizing health care widens the gap between the quality of medical service provided to persons sitting on the opposite sides of the socio-economic spectrum; the rich have access to the latest technologies, while the poor struggle to relieve headaches. As mentioned before, public health care is immensely convenient to citizens. Its benefits however, also extend to the sphere of the national economy.
The economic benefits of public health care include greater demand for professionals in the medical field and development of Canadian pharmaceutical industries. The baby-boomer generation, settling into its final years of maturity, is one that requires constant medical care. With public health care, the prospect of becoming a medical professional is within the realm of public education and is accessible to young adults of average-income families. In a private health care system, only the rich are able to afford the expenses of training to become medical professionals. Thus, the medical field becomes extremely exclusive. Furthermore, on average, in a public health care system medicine sells in larger quantities, as opposed to the private systems. For this reason, to continue