In a last ditch effort to find out why I've been dead walking for a week, I visited a walk in clinic open until 11pm. Those of you in the states will probably cite a different experience, but with a universal healthcare system, there are obvious distinctions between the rich and the poor. Despite our claim to 'universality', Canada has an issue with serving healthcare to homeless people - which is why so many die in waiting rooms per year - and providing adequate
Healthcare looks to be a socioeconomic privledge in Canada - girls whose parents can afford it are protected from cervical cancer with the gardisil vaccine; women who can afford it, can have a $400 IUD inserted, whereas those who can not, use either less effective forms of birth control, or none at all (exposing them to the risk of STDs as well).
I digress…. I visited a walk in clinic in Mississauga, which turned my sociological radar on full blast. Birth control for 3 dollars. HIV testing in five minutes. The third question they asked me upon arrival was, "do you have extended health and/or drug coverage?".. The doctor asked me when she was perscribing my medication the same thing… and noted that if not, she would have perscribed a different method.
I went home, and on the ride I revelled in the universality of our healthcare. It's places like that that remind me, despite it's downfalls, that our healthcare system has the best intentions in mind.
And despite my grumblings… I guess I can be ok with living in canada.
*cough* once stephen harper is out… *cough*