Not so sickly after all?

Despite the recent doom and gloom in the Canadian media (and the recent election of a Dr. Brian Day, who owns a private practice, to head the Canadian medical association), I have to report that my experience with Canada's health care system was fast, effective, and remarkably thorough.

Despite having not been to my family doctor in eight years, I didn't have to wait very long, and all the secretary needed was my health card. My doctor was efficient and thorough, giving me a whole checkup and signing me up for some blood tests and two ultrasounds because my thyroid was slightly enlarged (my mum has a thyroid condition called Hashimoto's Disease). Since I'm leaving for Japan in less than a week, the secretary kindly called ahead and got me an appointment to do all the blood work and one of the ultrasounds that afternoon, and the other ultrasound (the one which requires a bit more preparation) on Friday.

All the health care people I met today (who were all female, interestingly) were friendly and helpful despite being very busy. They did what needed to be done and all I ever needed was my slightly battered health card to gain access to all this medical attention.

Of course, I could still have a terrible disease lurking somewhere that these people missed, but all in all I'm quite happy with the state of health care in this country.