The forms are to protect doctors in the event of lawsuits. ... they provide them with your (more or less) complete medical history, so they're mutually beneficial.
Some sort of update schedule really is a good idea, except for the onerous forms.
Our province-wide electronic recording system (eHealth) circumvents the necessity for such. Reports of all medical visits to family physicians, hospitals, referrals to specialists, prescriptions, lab work, diagnostic imaging (such as X-ray, MRI, ultrasound), vaccinations are filed centrally. These then can called up by medical professionals as and when required — without the necessity of having the patient repeatedly filling out forms.
So, for example, if I have a recurrent issue with my GIT and require diagnostic and intervention away from home (but within the province), all past history is available to the attending physicians which then might preclude some additional diagnostic testing and acquire effective attention more quickly.
I don't now why you guys need prescription insurance; your drug prices are ridiculously low already.
Not as much as you might think. And just like below the 49th it's the least able who pay the penalty.
We're also a bit behind the rest of the civilized world in trying to arrange drug-purchasing clout. Recently, several provinces have banded together to arrange bulk purchases of many drugs. The national approach would provide even better deals.
