[VJW]

Originally Posted by CRFSaver

So the only concern I have with a program like that, is how are new procedures and medicines approved?

By the medical community, the same as it is here.

Part of the cost increased in healthcare have come from advances in health care (medicine and procedures). And I am asking this because I have no clue how it works. How do you ensure that new procedures and medicines get into the system?

Same way they are here. It's private-sector medicine.

I believe even in medicare things enter private sector medicine before they are allowed and paid for in medicare.

Are you referring to experimental procedures ? I assume that would be handled in Canada the same way it is handled by Medicare here. Medicare is a single-payer insurance program as well.

BTW, bone marrow transplant surgery came from Canada, as did many other break-through medical procedures and drugs.

How do you provide a large enough return to justify the R&D for medical device and pharma companies. No I dont mean big Pharma like Pfizer but the smaller shops that come out with specialized products.

Perhaps I failed to make it clear. Canada’s medical system is pretty much the same as in the U.S., it’s the health insurance system that is different.

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