Shoutbox

In Australia we have both public and private health care.  Our public health care has been criticized a lot recently, but in reality it works well and the private system is there for those who want to pay not to wait.  We have cheap drugs (in many cases) because of government subsidies and our paramedics work for the government.  Our systems may not change quickly, but you don't need to change quickly if you are doing things correctly.  Health always loses lots of money and only a government can really make it affordable for everyone, which IMHO is the humane thing to do and there should be no justification that is good enough to privitise any required service (this includes water, electricity, telecommunications and health).  This is because these industries can charge whatever they like and you are basically forced to pay it because you need it to live in today's society.