Pressured by an aging population and the need to rein in budget deficits, Canada’s provinces are taking tough measures to curb healthcare costs, a trend that could erode the principles of the popular state-funded system.
Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, kicked off a fierce battle with drug companies and pharmacies when it said earlier this year it would halve generic drug prices and eliminate “incentive fees” to generic drug manufacturers.
British Columbia is replacing block grants to hospitals with fee-for-procedure payments and Quebec has a new flat health tax and a proposal for payments on each medical visit — an idea that critics say is an illegal user fee.
That’s the problem that always snags socialism; sooner or later the socialists run out of other people’s money. Socialism becomes not so swell when reality intervenes.
Are we watching yet? Larry
[blockquote]halve generic drug prices and eliminate “incentive fees” to generic drug manufacturers.[/blockquote]
Talk about a policy of cutting off your nose to spite your face.