>I am for universal health care in this country. However, Canada's situation concerns me. I have read many stories about Canadians flying to the U.S. for medical treatment as well as the alarming number of Canadian surgeons moving to the U.S. to practice here.
>
>Here are some:
>
>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/20/health/main681801.shtml?cmp=EM8705
>http://newsbusters.org/blogs/scott-whitlock/2007/08/22/abc-glosses-over-fact-canadian-parents-flee-their-country-give-birth
>http://www.wockhardthospitals.net/news/canadian-patients.asp
>
>Whose system really does work? I am not looking to start an argument about the Canadian health care system, or the one here, or even any in the EU. I'm looking for a system that really works. The military healthcare system works, but it is too expensive to become a model for the U.S.

Teh CBS piece states that...

The World Health Organization in 2000 ranked France's health system as the best,
followed by Italy, Spain, Oman and Australia. Canada came in 30th and the 
United States 37th. 

http://mattjohnston.blogspot.com/2007/08/john-stossel-on-americas-ranking-in.html

According to John Stossel The way they measure is by looking at life expectancy.
This could include homocide and car accidents per capita.

To be fair there is a counter arguement to Stossel's view.