Health, health care system, pharmacare
This summer, the CCPA's Saskatchewan Office held a unique citizens' conference on the future of medicare in Canada. Envisioning the Future of Medicare brought together some of the leading experts on public healthcare in the province, such as Dr. Ryan Meili, Dr. William Albritton and Dr. John Bury, among others. This video captures their thoughts on what is required to sustain and expand public healthcare for all Canadians.
Contrary to the alarm raised by Canada's premiers, the Harper government's abdication from its leadership role in health care does not constitute a crisis. Canada's health care system has been under provincial jurisdiction since the Constitution Act, 1867, and the federal share of health care funding has now dwindled to 20% from the initial 50/50 sharing.
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A recent landmark investigation by BC’s Ombudsperson highlighted the serious problems seniors experience in accessing affordable high-quality home and community-based services (such as residential care, home nursing and home support). At the same time, BC continues to grapple with overcrowded hospitals and long waitlists for emergency care and surgeries.
(Vancouver) BC seniors face continued reductions in access to key home and community care services, with serious consequences for hospital overcrowding and wait times. That’s the central finding of a study released today that includes new data, obtained from the Ministry of Health, on changes in access to seniors care in recent years.
The study finds that while cuts to residential care and home support were especially steep between 2001 and 2006, a downward trend in access continued through 2009/10.
Correction 10/Sept/2012: The original version of this report, published July 11, 2012, contained an error in the calculation of hospital occupancy rates. Footnote 25 on page 18 indicated that hospital occupancy rates were calculated by dividing the number of hospital beds staffed and in operation by the average daily number of inpatient acute care days, resulting in a BC hospital occupancy rates in 2009/10 of 97 per cent.
On Friday June 15th, former Saskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow gave the keynote address to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives' conference on "Envisioning the Future of Medicare." Mr. Romanow was introduced by Senior CCPA Economist Armine Yalnizyan. The address took place at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
On April 25th, 2012 the Federal government announced cuts to most healthcare benefits for refugees that are currently provided by Canada’s Interim Federal Health (IFH) program, effective on June 30, 2012. Across Canada, healthcare providers, people who work with refugees and ordinary citizens are rallying against this decision, concerned that it flies in the face of an important Canadian value - providing a safe haven for vulnerable people around the world. Ironically, the cuts come into effect just in time for Canada Day.
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