THIS IS THE SORT OF THING YOU CAN EXPECT UNDER "SINGLE-PAYER" HEALTH CARE

And cataract removal is one of the more simple and basic procedures

An age pensioner has been told he may have to wait 10 years for a cataract operation from Queensland Health. Geoff Cass, 73, of Tewantin on the Sunshine Coast, has almost lost sight in his right eye and has a worsening problem with his left. He said he would be blind, or possibly dead, before a doctor could get to him. He was on an unofficial patient list waiting for assessment to get on the official waiting list.

Mr Cass was told by a private ophthalmologist, who would likely perform the operation for Queensland Health, it could take 10 years or more. "It's an absolute bloody disgrace," he said. Mr Cass is one of thousands of Queenslanders waiting for cataract removals and other eye operations. There was an acknowledged serious shortage of full-time eye surgeons employed by Queensland Health, with visiting medical officers contracted to perform the delicate work. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists has criticised Queensland Health for not providing adequate facilities to entice private doctors.

Mr Cass, well known in Tewantin for his volunteer work, said he could not afford $6000 to have the cataracts removed privately. Mr Cass said his wife Margaret, 72, also needed cataract surgery.

Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg slammed the surgery delay. "It is a disgusting situation that a couple who have worked their entire lives and paid their taxes now face the prospect of spending most of their final days in darkness through no fault of their own," he said. A Queensland Health spokesman said the Sunshine Coast Health Service was not aware of any patient who had been told they must wait 10 years for cataract surgery, but he conceded the service was under pressure.

Source

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For greatest efficiency, lowest cost and maximum choice, ALL hospitals and health insurance schemes should be privately owned and run -- with government-paid vouchers for the very poor and minimal regulation. Both Australia and Sweden have large private sector health systems with government reimbursement for privately-provided services so can a purely private system with some level of government reimbursement or insurance for the poor be so hard to do?

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