I live in Ontario, and from my experience, Canadian healthcare is similar to Europe in many ways but shares some traits with the U.S. I’ve also gone through emergency treatment for a serious illness in Vietnam, so I want to offer a perspective about healthcare systems in different countries.
Public healthcare in the U.S. is notoriously inefficient. Medical treatment under state insurance can be grueling. People with money often opt for private healthcare, but the cost is steep. A middle-class person in the U.S. with a serious, hard-to-treat illness may even go bankrupt. This is one reason why many overseas Vietnamese return home for medical treatment.
In Vietnam, public healthcare is overloaded, but private healthcare is well-developed with skilled doctors. While medical services in private hospitals are pricier than in public ones, they are still far cheaper compared to the U.S.
A doctor and a patient. Photo by Unsplash
Canada’s public healthcare is fully covered by insurance, but private healthcare is nearly non-existent. For any medical needs, you must go through the family doctor system. In emergencies, you can visit a hospital, but they are often overcrowded, similar to public hospitals in Vietnam. So, even if you can afford private care, the system forces everyone to go through the same process — you must wait, regardless of the severity of your condition.
In the U.S., private healthcare is a business. If you can afford it, you can bypass the queues; if not, you stand in line at public hospitals. The system is brutally efficient, but it’s not about medical ethics — it’s about money.
In Canada, medical staff work within strict hours and are entitled to private time after work. Unlike doctors in Vietnam, who often work overtime, medical professionals in Canada come to work on time and leave when their shifts end, unless they choose to work extra hours. While they are generally good and responsible during working hours, after-hours care isn’t the same unless they voluntarily extend their shifts.
When it comes to waiting, Vietnam’s overloaded public healthcare system still manages to serve patients efficiently. You may need to wake up early, wait in line, and spend hours at the hospital, but at least you can be seen the same day. In Canada, even being a minute late for an appointment means your visit is canceled, and you are forced to reschedule for another day — a frustrating experience for many.
Family doctor consultations in Canada are usually brief and mostly focus on identifying serious issues. If you need a specialist, you will have to wait for a referral, and even then, it can take another 2-3 months to secure an appointment. This delay can be exhausting.
This experience serves as a reminder that despite advancements in healthcare abroad, there are still significant challenges. Patients in other countries often face long waits and complicated systems just to see a doctor. In contrast, in Vietnam, it is common to walk straight into a clinic or hospital, queue up, and see a doctor the same day. This is something many Vietnamese can take for granted.