Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about the Denmark innovation towards public health care. Mr. Speaker, they do something really original. They put the patient before the system.
Mr. Speaker, did you know that in Denmark, the state assigns doctors to its people, Mr. Speaker. Can you imagine that? People being served by the state in a manner that's helpful and useful? They actually put their people ahead of the system, Mr. Speaker. It's quite innovative to think about it.
You know, they do other interesting things. No matter what, if you have a young person, a child who is sick, they find a way to get that person in to see a doctor. Why? Because their people matter more than the process, Mr. Speaker.
And speaking of process, without a system that takes care of you in that manner, me finding a doctor is almost like going to a job interview. You have to find an opening and then you have to sell yourself and explain to your doctor that you're not so complicated that they'll just say yeah, that works within their practice or scope, Mr. Speaker, and then you wait to find out if you're agreeable for their interest, Mr. Speaker. Now, that's assuming you can find a doctor who is taking an opening. And I remember there was a time there was a public phone number that people could call and find out who is taking them.
So why can't we do business different? Oh, wait a minute - it's us; we're the ones in charge of the system. That's why we can't.
Mr. Speaker, it's time to start putting the demands of the patient first. Now, keep in mind that doesn't necessarily mean we're putting the doctors' demands second. As a matter of fact, if we spent just a little time listening to the doctors and their recommendations, we'd probably be achieving the exact same goal with some minor tweaks.
Mr. Speaker, for example, the doctors will say, you know, when we write referrals we get tired of someone overwriting them, rewriting them, refusing them, sending them back and ignoring them. What can't of doctor wants to work in that kind of system, Mr. Speaker? I'm talking about the gatekeepers who no longer respect doctors' orders.
Mr. Speaker, you know, if we spent a little time listening to our doctors who say they are tired about the administrative focus of their job as opposed to the health care focus of their job, so if we could support them through an administration, we could per hour put some of the most expensive people we have on the payroll doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing.
Mr. Speaker, this isn't exciting innovative stuff. This is straightforward, help the doctors do what the doctors want to do.
Mr. Speaker, I end with the question of is the system designed for the patients, or is the system designed to help support, lock in, what is great about process in the system? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements.
