Canadian Healthcare Equality Meets H1N1

Events in Calgary last week provided a stark illustration of how Canadian healthcare values differ from American ones. As we’ve seen here in the US, H1N1 (which some health workers now call “heinie”, because patients tend to think it’s spelled HiNi) vaccine has been delayed and in short supply. The CDC has determined some vaccination priority groups in the midst of the pandemic. But none of us would really be surprised to find out that the wealthy and powerful, sports stars and celebrities were able to jump the line. Canadians generally would be mortified by this. But provincial health officials don’t just get mad – they get even.

Initially Canada believed it would have enough vaccine for everyone. So it opened clinics and vaccinated people on a first come, first served basis. Then it discovered the laws of (short) supply and (high) demand and regrouped. Meanwhile, a health service worker in Alberta decided (perhaps with a little financial help?) that the National Hockey League deserved preferential access to the scarce H1N1 vaccine. So Calgary Flames players and their families were duly jabbed.

Unfortunately, the worker chose the day before public flu clinics were closed due to the vaccine shortage. So as hours-long queues of residents were turned away, the NHL was safely put out of harm’s way. It turns out Canadians’ love of all things hockey only goes so far. Amid public outrage, health officials in Calgary duly fired the worker. Then the head of Alberta’s health service released a totally un-American statement:

“Our policies on vaccine distribution are designed to ensure an equitable distribution of the vaccine to all Albertans. The special treatment for the Flames and their families is unacceptable to us and contrary to all of our existing protocols and processes. I apologize for this breach of our duty to Albertans."

Equitable distribution of health services? Breach of duty to citizens? Firing a worker for making a profit on healthcare? What? Yep, it may sound like Greek to us, but in other developed nations healthcare is a right. This small breach of healthcare equality is something at which American healthcare bodies like the CDC don’t bat an eyelid (hence Goldman Sachs getting priority delivery, through regular channels, of enough vaccine doses to serve a hospital, while some hospitals went without.)

Of course, Canada's H1N1 response wasn't nearly as organized and equitable as many European nations. Britain sent vaccination invitations to high priority groups only, easily identified in their national health record. So did Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and France. All of these countries have universal healthcare systems, what many Americans disparagingly dismiss as "socialized medicine". Here in the US we believe those with money, power, and status should get the first and the best care.

Dr. Steve Field, president of the Royal College of General Physicians in Britain, puts it bluntly. He clearly points to Britain's socialized system as allowing the country to serve those who need care first: "It's not like the U.S., where it's the survival of the fittest and the richest." Our H1N1 vaccinations have indeed been a free-for-all. I wonder if we would change our minds about egalitarian healthcare in the middle of a severe pandemic -- perhaps heinie came too late (er, at the tail end?) for the great healthcare reform debate of 2009.

But speaking of rear ends and free-for-alls, here's a rude reminder that Tea Partiers didn't stop at town halls. No, it appears GOP "representatives" (in the true meaning of the word, unfortunately) behaved like complete heinies when the Democratic Women's Caucus took the floor to voice how healthcare reform would benefit women. Yes folks, it appears children run rampant in the capitol. These people are responsible for voting on serious issues?

Photo http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/2628787345_2a2e3083e5.jpg // CC BY 2.0