SPOTTED: what health care issue is most important to you?

Health care is always a hot topic among Canadians, one that is just as good at polarizing readers' opinions as it is at mobilizing them. Readers chimed in on Friday, after Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq met with her provincial and territorial counterparts for an annual meeting.

The ministers met to lay the groundwork for plans for the 2014 health accord. The existing funding agreement that expires in 2014 was the first item on the agenda at the gathering in Halifax and much of the discussion focused on looking back, rather than forward.

Other subjects of interest at the meeting included clinical trial proposals for a controversial treatment for multiple sclerosis, obesity, mental health and suicide prevention and sodium intake.

Readers weighed in on what was most important to the health care for them, and where they think the system can or needs to improve.

"Maybe more money should be allocated to health education. We need to educate the public more about general first aid, teach children in school how to treat minor cuts and burns. This way we will help inform the public about what actually needs professional medical attention, and what you handle yourself.

In addition, more doctors need to be trained. I don't know why medical schools are so expensive and difficult to get into. I met lots of people during my time in university who dreamed of becoming doctors, but it never happened since they just didn't have the grades. Just because they aren't A++ students doesn't mean they can't be great family doctors. - bergberg

"I would also add to 'concentrate on prevention;' overall far better promotion of healthy eating and lifestyle...The long-term payoff in reduced healthcare costs of a real serious push on these issues would be tremendous." - undermedia

As always, private health care options and the concept of a two-tiered system became the centre of several debates.

"I am a strong believer in public health care and I also firmly believe that just because you have more money or influence doesn't mean that you should be able to buy yourself better health care. Everyone should get the same, no matter what, in a public health care system," said Unruly citizen.

"Those that can get good healthcare (which is actually a majority of us) are dragged into a mediocre system. Those that can't afford it (a minority, but still sizeable) get healthcare which to them is not mediocre as it's better than none. So in essence, you're bringing the top down to the bottom level, slapping a 'fair' label on it and calling it a great system. How so?" countered ONLiberty.

To this, Unruly citizen answered: " No, we simply have to demand a better system, it gives us incentive to get involved and make our health care better for us all. Don't think of it as dragging the people down but think of it as us bringing the system upwards."

As always, thanks for your feedback.

What is the most important issue facing Canadian health care today? How do you think the 2014 health accord should differ from the 2004 version, if at all? Let us know in the comments section below.


(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)