03 X 98 The Blind Perspective 42: How Can Universal Healthcare Be Improved?
Canada is one of the countries known for it\u2019s universal healthcare, and Norway currently retains the oldest universal healthcare system in the world, at over one hundred years-old.\n\nAs old as Norway\u2019s healthcare system is, Canada\u2019s healthcare seems to be one of the most accessible systems in the world, and it\u2019s no wonder, utilizing both public and private healthcare, wait times vary by location, and in addition, each province retains administration of the national healthcare system on it\u2019s own merits.\n\nWith that in mind, Ontario, being the most populous province in Canada, is most beneficial for blind and visually impaired individuals.\n\nIn Fact, Victor can attest to Ontario\u2019s healthcare system being one of the best in the world for blind individuals, but a decision by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan has incorporated certain provisions that could pose a health risk to it\u2019s population.\n\nIn some cases, medication is integral to maintaining a healthy well-being, and until now, doctors were re-filling continuous prescriptions by phone or fax. This was especially beneficial to those who lived a far distance from their medical practitioner.\n\nAll one needed to do was call the pharmacy, let them know they were out of medication, and the pharmacy would fax the doctor to approve the re-fill, and the medication would be available for pick-up or delivery. This is now not the case\u2026\n\nThe provincial government has decided that prescription re-fills are no longer covered by fax or phone calls, and an appointment must be made to obtain a new prescription the patient must take to the pharmacy to be filled.\n\nThis could be beneficial to those who have transitory health issues, but for those who have chronic conditions that don\u2019t require close scrutiny, a major hardship.\n\nIn some cases, doctors are unwilling to perform full physical exams, in the name of cutting patient wait times and costs to the medical healthcare system.\n\nJoin Victor to talk about whether this is a positive step forward, or just a money grab for today\u2019s doctors who are being forced to work under more difficult positions of time restraints and cost cutting methods.\n\nShould you wish to join the broadcast to voice your opinion, you can use the link Victor will provide in the comment section below, or you can leave a comment in the comment sections below.\n\nJoin our panel, on Friday nights at 8:00 pm (EST), 5:00 pm (PST) and 1:00 am (GMT), as they discuss topical news items of importance from a blind perspective.\n\nThe Blind Perspective is an interactive show, allowing for the participation of the audience. Should you wish to be involved in the conversation, please send an e-mail message to:\n\nwhoseblindlifeisitanyway@gmail.com\n\nOr, message us on our Facebook page at:\n\nhttp://www.Facebook.com/whose.blind.life.is.it.anyway\n\nYou can also Tweet us on Twitter:\n\nhttp://www.twitter.com/blindwhose\n\nCome join the conversation today.