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                      AN OVERVIEW OF THIS HEALTH PACKAGE 
                     

    This health package examines the current and future state of health
    care in Canada. It also looks at the roles health care professionals
    play now and in the future and the changing attitudes and roles and
    special problems of patients.

    We begin by offering look at the mechanism of medicine in Canada,
    <03health> and the role the federal government <03health -Consti> and
    the provincial government <03health -sole> play in providing care.

    We also look at the changing health and lifestyle profile of Canadians
    <04health -generally>.

    Next a look at the fat in the system. Is it doctors? <06health -driving>
    Patients' demands and expectations <08health -across> or high priced
    and enticing technology? <10health>.

    We also look at the health care programs provided by other countries.
    The ailing National Health of Britian is examined <12health>, as is
    The U.S. system <13health>. The U.S. system and Canada's are compared
    as are the care provided by both <14health>.

    After that we look at three different kinds of doctors, a highly
    successful opthamologist in Calgary <15health>, family doctors
    <16health> and rural physicians <17health>.

    Then we look to the doctors' support, the technicians <18health> in
    short supply everywhere. Specifically we explore the changing roles of
    nurses <19health> who are finding their responsibilities can change with
    the time of day or their place of employment.

    Further in the background, behind the doctors, nurses and technicians,
    are the researchers <20health> who are finding their funding sources
    drying up. That lack of money may mean that medical milestones
    <22health> that have made Canada famous may be few and far between in
    the future.

    Besides medical milestones, however, something else has made Canada
    famous in the health care world. McMaster University's medical school
    is renowned for its humanitarian approach to medical training
    <24health>.

    Unfortunately for the parents of mentally ill children <25health>
    humanitarian medical treatment can seem a long way off. Mentally ill
    children seem to always have to wait in line while physical ailments
    are treated.

    Sometimes that waiting, and frustrations with mainstream medicine in
    general, can lead the public to search for alternatives to mainstream
    medicine. But alternatives such as holistic medicine <26health> often
    offer bogus, useless and dangerous treatments.

    We also examine the relationship between poverty and health <28health>
    and look at the health care provided to citizens of Canada's Northern
    communities <29health> and that given to our elderly citizens <30health>.

    To examine the issues and items raised in these stories please
    see <ISS>.

    We hope you enjoy this hypertext health package.

