You are functioning under a misconception. That misconception being that Socialized Medicine means that private health insurance is automaticly defunct, and it isn't.

There's still a viable option for private hospitals and private health coverage. Having national health insurance doesn't preclude these options. What it does do is establish a level of care and service against which to compete.

If a person knew that they may have to wait for an operation under national coverage but are guaranteed to get it and get it "for free," while seeking private care. Then I'm pretty that the odds of that private care actually following through on their obligation increases dramaticly.

They can be as corrupt as they want to be because there's no other place to go ... change that dynamic and watch corruption drop dramaticly.