Re: "Our health care tops in Canada," Jan. 26.

Being a practising physician and seeing first-hand the shortcomings of our provincial health-care system, I realized once again that statistics can prove anything.

It was astounding to read this headline in a newspaper that has had reports almost daily about the lack of care for the disabled and mentally ill, the sexual abuse of patients in hospitals because rooming male patients with females is more economical, and the lack of specialists in almost every field (most recently obstetric anesthesiologists) because of low physician fees compared to other provinces.

Statistics regarding early discharge from hospital and treating patients in the ER without admitting them look terrific unless you are a patient who was sent home still sick and undiagnosed, or if you are a patient sent home from the ER with the same problem two or three times before you are finally admitted.

Cancer statistics can also look wonderful if we choose carefully the ones we look at. Hundreds of deaths from colon cancer could be avoided every year in B.C. if screening colonoscopies were done, but the provincial health plan does not pay for them. More people in B.C. than in any other province fail to take their prescription drugs properly because of the cost.

There is a third certainty in life other than death and taxes: you get what you pay for. Good health care costs a lot of money, and this provincial government has shown its priority is cost, not care.

A headline like this only encourages them to follow their current course, which is not at all healthy for the people of B.C.

Gwen Isaacs

Victoria