The head of the organization representing Canada’s doctors says the health care system was “not prepared” for the current pandemic, and doesn’t see why the federal government doesn’t fully acknowledge the weaknesses exposed by the COVID-19 crisis.
“I am trying to understand the government’s response today because I think everyone was caught flat-footed," said Sandy Buchman, president of the Canadian Medical Association. “The front line is telling us over and over that they are not prepared and they are scared. We are hearing it from everywhere.”
Dr. Buchman was responding to a 2006 federal document that warned Canada needed to be better prepared for the outbreak of a pandemic or face serious consequences. That plan warned that a new virus could spread very quickly, transmitted by people with no symptoms, and urged governments to be ready with a domestic stockpile of medical supplies to assist and protect health care workers facing surges of infectious patients.
Hajdu insists the government did what was needed, when it was needed.
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