Canada needs a Long-Term Care Insurance Plan: Globe
This week’s roundup of who is saying what on public health care includes the Globe and Mail‘s call for a Long-Term Care Insurance Plan, Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos on clawing back federal health transfers to provinces charging fees for health care, and calls from the Canadian Medical Association’s Dr. Alika Lafontaine to do wrap-around teams-based health care.
A modest proposal – for long-term care insurance?
“Fifty-eight years ago, Prime Minister Lester Pearson and nine premiers agreed to create the Canada Pension Plan, modelled on a plan crafted by the Quebec government. The CPP, flanked by Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement, transformed life for millions of elderly Canadians, giving this country an old-age poverty rate almost half that of the United States. Six decades later, it’s time for a new plan, one that a number of other countries have already adopted: a Canada Long-Term Care Insurance Plan, to provide a guaranteed quality of life for the elderly who are frail… ”: Editorial Board of The Globe and Mail, 14 March 2023
Duclos threatens clawback of federal funds for fees charged by private health-care
“There should be no fees for medically necessary health-care services, wherever people may live in this country” Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos in a letter to provincial and territorial counterparts, CBC/Canadian Press March 10, 2023
Once-in-a-generation opportunity to do health care differently, says CMA president
“Team-based care works. And everyone would benefit from integrated teams of professionals working together to meet the care needs of patients, delivering better patient experiences and faster access. We should all be focussed on smoother patient journeys. Wrap-around team-based care will ensure timelier, more supportive encounters and better health care outcomes,” said Dr. Alika Lafontaine, president, Canadian Medical Association, to the Toronto Star, March 11, 2023
Confused about privatization? You’re not alone
“Privatization is such a broad term that it’s basically useless,” I honestly wouldn’t know how to address questions about privatization without first asking if you mean financing or delivery,” said Dr. Melanie Bechard, president of Canadian Doctors for Medicare, to CBC, 14 March 2023
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Trudeau lets Big Pharma have its way: McQuaig
“. . .After years of retreats, the Trudeau government has quietly folded its tent, letting the industry have its way . . .Big Pharma is an intimidating force that fights relentlessly, publicly and privately, to protect the interests of its shareholders. But is it too much to expect the Trudeau government to fight with similar zeal . . . to protect the interests of its citizens?” wrote Linda McQuaig for the Toronto Star, March 9, 2023
PEI docs say money alone isn’t enough to solve problems
“If you’re asking physicians, it’s about our lack of access to the tools and the resources that we need to do our jobs to take care of patients. If you ask patients, it’s about the lack of access to physicians,” said Dr. Krista Cassell, president of the Medical Society of Prince Edward Island. Bottom line is, you know, it’s been a tough few years with COVID, and then for us here in P.E.I., the impacts of post-tropical storm Fiona.… We don’t have the people to do the jobs, we don’t have the resources. And it’s all led to a system where everything is backed up,” said Dr. Krista Cassell, president of the Medical Society of Prince Edward Island, to CBC, March 13, 2023
Manitoba unions call for safety certifications to cut down on worker injuries in health care
“(In Manitoba, health care) is the most dangerous sector to work in. That’s wrong. That needs to change, and it won’t change without this government making a firm commitment to certify these facilities to keep workers safe and take preventative steps to take care of the health-care workers who are taking care of us,” said Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour to Global News, March 13, 2023
Financial Accountability Officer says Ford government shortchanging health care by billions
“The funding shortfall is only part of the story. The more pressing issue I think is that Ontario is currently experiencing shortages of nurses and personal support workers which are projected to persist throughout our six-year forecast,” said Ontario Financial Accountability Officer Peter Weltman, The Globe and Mail, March 8, 2023
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