Our much-vaunted public health care system desperately needs emergency treatment to prevent it from landing in the intensive care unit. A recent report showed that more than one million Canadians are on a waiting list for medical care, a clear embarrassment for those who still believe in the fantasy that we have the "best healthcare system in the world." That report also said that "only substantial reform ... will alleviate ... longer waiting lists." Sadly, early indications are that ex premier Roy Romanow will ask for much of the same. Same system, more services covered, and the same delusion that we can tinker with what we have and end up with better health care. But in order to fix a problem, we have to first understand it.

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