A bleeding heart I am not, but this one takes the biscuit! Asking the penniless to pay up-front because the government is too slow in reimbursing you is the worst PR for your business and, in the end, a very expensive choice for the country.
Not all refugees spend $50k to be shipped to the country, and a big majority of them - I'd bet - are really genuine seekers of freedom from fear. We can debate the merits and demerits of affording those whose status is uncertain the privilege of a blank cheque. The proposal from the Quebec pharmacists' association binds those affected in a Catch-22 situation unworthy of a civilised country.
Currently, pharmacists give out drugs to refugee claimants and other penniless newcomer categories, then file for reimbursement with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The proposed policy shift would transfer the reimbursement onus on the consumer.
If you're penniless, you will be able to afford squat. Until you get a 2 or 3-numbered SIN, forget about decent credit cards that would allow some form of deferral. When there's rent, bills and expenses to pay, one can hardly cough up for the necessary meds for a chronic condition, or an acute one for that matter.
How can this be beneficial for the country at large? Without medications, deteriorating conditions will clog up hospitals, emergency rooms and clinics. Instead of subsidising a smaller medication purchase, we'd end up paying out of our pocket for extra hospital, doctor, nurse and equipment time. You don't need an accountancy degree to figure out what's least expensive.
It's the usual crap. Governmental schemes are inefficient, so it's taken out on those who can't answer back. Rather than give bureaucrats and pen-men a nudge, the pharmacists take the easy way out. More shockingly for me, the most "agreed" comments on the CBC web site - usually reserved for those hearts bleeding most copiously - were attacking the very principle of the subsidy scheme. I've never seen such tightness regarding taxpayer money. Maybe the cause lies in many Canadians lacking comprehensive coverage too, ergo their health care nerve is very raw.
The Quebec Pharmacists' Association's concerns are legitimate: a private business has to have timely payments. It is however unfair to dump the consequences of public inefficiencies onto those who, according to treaties by the same critical and tight bleeding hearts to death defended, we have taken upon ourselves to protect and shelter.
5 comments:
So it's OK then to dump the consequence of public inefficiencies on private citizens and their businesses?
You're reading a Tory's blog - do you expect that to be the answer? If the Government's scheme is inefficient, you have to tackle the problem t the source. Incidentally, they somewhat did: the responsibility for the reimbursement was transferred to someone who boasts a better record. Let's see if that fixes things. In the meantime, such initiatives and proposals just sound lame.
And how do the many "citizens" (who can't afford these prescription, medical,dental plans and other services) of this country access such programs? We just get to pay for everyone else to get this service.
Letting too many freeloaders come to Canada and USE the "system" is destroying it.
Rob C
"How can this be beneficial for the country at large? Without medications, deteriorating conditions will clog up hospitals, emergency rooms and clinics. Instead of subsidising a smaller medication purchase, we'd end up paying out of our pocket for extra hospital, doctor, nurse and equipment time. You don't need an accountancy degree to figure out what's least expensive.
"
Or we could stop accepting penniless refugees who, by your own characterization, are a drag on the system for everyone.
We have treaty obligations to accept those who are genuinely seeking refuge.
This post was not about refugee policy, or the merits of giving refugee claimants free medications.
It was about someone delivering their grievance about a governmental program to the wrong address.
Refugee law, healthcare policy, etc: I am not going there for now. Too many thorns.
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