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I grew up in Canada, but I've lived in the United States for 10 years now. Canada has a national health survey to collect data from selected households. They use this information to study health issues, ways to prevent diseases, and plan better treatment. Why doesn't the United States have something like this?

Canada has a national health care system funded by the government. This makes it possible to start a national health survey. In the United States, there isn't national health insurance or a system of national health care. This means everyone has their own insurance, no insurance, or they pay expenses out of pocket.

Americans are also quite serious about privacy. By and large, they don't want information about them collected or stored in a database. At the same time, they have what's called state's rights. The Civil War resulted in each state making laws to govern the people of that state. Under our present system, it would take agreement and legislation in all 50 states before a national health database could be started.

It may only be a matter of time before the United States Federal government steps in. A more efficient health care system is needed. There is a general trend toward automated identification and data collection at each individual health care facility. Without funding and universal permission, it's not likely we'll have such a system linked together throughout the United States.

As you may remember, former First Lady Hillary Clinton tried to revamp the United States' Health Care System. It was too complicated for one person or department to take on. Some people think it's only a matter of time before we have a national health service. Others don't think it will ever happen.

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