The debate is over !        Français    Peer-reviewed evidence clearly shows   that for-profit health care facilities ...         a) have higher death rates than not-for-profit facilities (1,2,3);       b) cost more (4);       c) provide lower quality (5);       d) engage in schemes to cheat taxpayers (6,7,8);       e) compromise access to public services (9); and       f) provide less nursing care than in not-for-profit           nursing homes (10).     Don't trust politicians who say it doesn't     matter who delivers your health care! References: (1)  Devereaux, P.J., et al, "A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing mortality rates       of private for-profit and private not-for-profit hospitals", Canadian Medical Association Journal,       May 28, 2002; Vol. 166, No. 11 (2)  Thomas, E., et al, "Hospital Ownership and Preventable Adverse Events", Journal of General       Internal Medicine, April, 2000 (3)  Devereaux, P.J., et al, "Comparison of Mortality Between Private For-Profit and       Private Not-For-Profit Hemodialysis Centrers,"       Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), November 20, 2002; Vol. 288, No. 19 (4)  Woolhandler, S. et al, "When Money is the Mission - The High Cost of Investor-Owned Care",       New England Journal of Medicine, August 5, 1999, Vol. 341, No. 6 (5)  Schneider, E. et al, “Quality of care in for-profit and not-for-profit health plans enrolling Medicare       beneficiaries,” The American Journal of Medicine, vol. 118 no. 12, December 2005 (6)  Eichenwald, K., "Hospital Chain Cheated U.S. On Expenses, Documents Show",       New York Times, December 18, 1997 (7)  Steward, G., "Public Bodies, Private Parts: Surgical Contracts and Conflict of Interest at the       Calgary Regional Health Authority", Parkland Institute/University of Alberta, March 5, 2001 (8)  British Medical Journal (May 15, 2004), "NHS overcharged for private surgery" (9)  Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, "Myth: A parallel private system would reduce       waiting times in the public system", 2001 (10)  Harrington, C., "Does Investor Ownership of Nursing Homes Compromise the Quality of Care",       American Journal of Public Health (September 2001). More peer-reviewed evidence against for-profit health care Health Care costs more, delivers less at investor-owned for-profit hospitals: major study   New !! Press Release  |  Backgrounder  |  Download Study Higher Death Rates in For-Profit Hospitals                    Higher Death Rates in Private, For-Profit Dialysis Clinics Physicians for a National Health Program Download the Slideshow (Power Point) British Medical Journal (May 2004, BMJ 328:1158) NHS overcharged for private surgery Reality Check For-profit ownership of health care facilities leads to improved efficiencies in the system "Canadians view Medicare as a moral enterprise, not a business venture. Tossing overboard the principles and values that govern our health care system would be betraying a public trust."                                                         -- Hon. Roy Romanow Public funds are for patients, not profits!