As to the lack of understanding of what constitutes price fixing, assuming it works the same way as it does here...the government says,'We believe (say) a 15 minute consult with a doctor should be worth $X, therefore that's what we're prepared to pay.' Some doctors agree and that's what they charge, therefore you pay nothing. Some doctors think,'I believe my 15 minutes is worth more than $X, therefore I'm charging an extra $X on top of that.'
Any medical practitioner in the country is entitled to charge whatever he thinks is a fair thing.You're not obliged to see him for your medical needs if you don't agree with him. I've yet to see enough people disagree with a doctor as to his worth that it forces them out of business. Sadly, in at least one case I can think of.
In my experience a doctor's opinion that they're worth some extra cash isn't necessarily an indicator that they're a better doctor than the guy who says,'Sign this and give it to the desk on your way out.' In fact, there's only been a single instance that I've personally found that to be the case, and as that was the obstetrician I used for all three of my pregnancies, price wasn't the only factor under consideration.
But then we've also got the case of one of the guys I work with, who is flying back to New Zealand this week to spend some time with his family and get some fairly comprehensive work done on his teeth. He's flying back to NZ to do it - not because he's especially desperate to see his family - because it costs him less to buy a plane ticket and go home for a couple of weeks to get it done, than it would to get it done here.Almost like paying less for something that isn't covered here
and getting a holiday at the same time.
Obviously that means he's fleeing the evils of our government health care.