Health Care Down Under

"There is a workforce crisis, not only affecting emergency specialists but also surgeons, psychiatrists, rural doctors, nurses and other health workers. We need to know that there is a workforce plan. At present there is none because politicians don't know what sort of health service to provide," said Dr. Tony Joseph, an Australian physician on Friday.

Government-run health care is ultimately politician-run health care, and bringing this to the US is not going to solve all of our problems. We need to look carefully at what is happening in Australia, Canada and Europe before we assume that this is best for America. All of us in this great country need to work and advocate for the health and welfare of our fellow man. Our class speakers and articles continue to show us the great need out there. Saying healthcare is a "right" and then tasking the government with delivering it is one solution, but maybe not the best.

Maybe the next 8350 class can take a trip to Canada or Italy and see first hand if government run health care is all it is cracked up to be.

In other health workforce news, women doctors are on the rise in Canada. From 2002 to 2006, females in the workforce increased 13 percent compared to only one percent for males. Wow, this sounds like Public Relations here in the US. Women are taking over.

Read more about what is happening in Canada here. In fact, the study referenced shows that women in Canada make up over 48 percent of physicians under the age of 40.

Note to females in class--no hidden message here.