September 15th, 2008
Another kind of health care debate
If things were different we might be having a different kind of health care debate.
The conservative position might be allowing any private health care at all. The liberal worry might be finding enough doctors.
This is the debate currently taking place in Canada, which holds a general election October 14.
Technology issues are important on both sides:
- Universal coverage offers a base for centralized development of electronic medical record (EMR) technology, and the computer networks they feed.
- Private care might spur new innovations, creating new jobs and businesses.
The Canadian debate seems centered on two men:
- Robert Ouellet (above), president of the Canadian Medical Association, puts the case for allowing private care.
- Jack Layton (below), head of the opposition New Democratic Party, puts the case for growing the public system.
Neither man is expected to win the day. The winner will be Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, whose party is well ahead down partly to the personal unpopularity of Liberal leader Stephane Dion.
All of which means the debate will continue, with private care increasing and Layton becoming a key opposition leader on behalf of the public system.
What this means for technologists is all good. A private health system will increase opportunities for medical technology companies. Liberals may decide to save money with broad-based technology solutions.
Meanwhile Americans will debate lipstick on pigs. Broad-based technology will not be deployed. Health care technologists will be hammered by what is happening on Wall Street. Don’t get sick.
Dana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist since 1978, and has covered technology since 1982. He launched the Interactive Age Daily, the first daily coverage of the Internet to launch with a magazine, in September 1994. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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