Since my blog comment on Friday, I have received additional information from a BC medical care professional, which I invite you to read.
Health care costs for the average Canadian is just under $4,000 / year -- and when we reach the age of 65, as our 'baby boomers' are doing right now, these cost rise steeply. If they make 90, the average is $ 20,000 a year. This is for chronic disease; diabetes, respiratory etc, then cancer and heart disease come in. As well the nursing home and chronic care costs are huge.
As for preventative medicine, well this is the 'Other half', which is an area we really have not done very well in. One has only to look about and see all the obesity and smoking, never mind the burgers and donuts etc.
My own view is that these foods are a sort of addiction, and treating them is like treating an addiction -- I suspect that starting in BC schools with some rather dramatic teaching, or something like that, is the long term approach.
It certainly seems like a serious review of how we can improve our approach, and application of, "preventative medicine" is well worth it; not only for the health care budget, BUT for our own well-being.
Click the link to see Friday’s full story, Will these health care suggestions be popular?
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