The inferno we call healthcare

I tell my patients that they may do more good for themselves, theirs family, friends and “circle of influence” than I can with a prescription pad. They can improve health care by being a good lifestyle role model and share with others the benefit of eating 400-500 grams of non-starchy vegetables and fruits per day (WHO, Harvard School of Public Health).
According to Health Canada:
Approximately four in five Canadian adults have at least one modifiable risk factor for chronic disease (self-reported tobacco smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating and harmful use of alcohol)
Canada ranks amongst the worst of OECD countries for adult obesity rates.

Canadians spent $22.1 billion on alcohol (a rise of 3.5 per cent from the same period a year earlier);
16 Billions on tobaccos;
102 Billions on processed food and beverages;
4.8 Billions on pot; rate rising at 1.2% per year.
253.5 Billions on healthcare (< than 3% of that on illness prevention which includes immunizations)
Canada is expected to spend $33.7 billion on prescribed drugs in 2018, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). This marks an estimated annual increase of 4.2% for drugs, compared with 4.0% and 3.1% for hospitals and doctors, respectively. 

4.9 Billions on vegetables.

I think the issues of insufficient physicians, inadequate resources, physician burnout, low patient satisfaction, long wait-time, poor distribution, the lack of effective collaborations or the need to protect “family medicine” are all symptoms of a collective conditioned to blindly follow and remain unaware.

I think directing attention only at blazes of symptoms while allowing the root cause to smolder is the greatest challenge in our society.

I think the medical profession has been earnestly putting out fire. As a physician, I have been trained and conditioned to direct my attention at the flickering flames and I have obeyed for 30 years. It appears to me that the fire has now spread out of control; and many other, for one reason or another, by one means or another, all want to get in on the action. I think, for the balance of my career, I need to redirect my attention away from distractions and take aim at the base of the fire before we all go up in flames.