Signing pharmacare deals with provinces, territories is an emergency: NDP health critic
This week’s edition of who is saying what about public health care is compiled by Pat Van Horne.
Health Minister urged to save pharmacare
“The Liberals should be doing everything they can to ensure that these agreements are signed,” said NDP Health Critic Peter Julian to the Globe and Mail, January 7, 2025.
Stop charging for medically necessary services: doctor
“The Canadian Medical Association is correct in calling on governments to stop for-profit corporations, physicians, and nurse practitioners from charging user fees for medically necessary care, and stop profit-driven insurance companies from including these services in their employee benefit plans. . . Workers with benefit plans may be unaware that those benefits cut into their salary; especially in these times of rising cost of living, compensation packages are a tug-of-war between salary and benefits. . .Since governments subsidize employer-funded benefit plans by giving employers a tax break on their contributions to those plans, we are all helping to fund virtual care, but only for the 25 per cent of us covered by those plans…Employer-funded insurance coverage for virtual care snuck in during the pandemic. Eliminating it will not jeopardize access to care for those lucky enough to have a job with benefits. Instead, governments will be obligated to fund that care for everyone, just like they pay for these services when provided in doctor’s offices and hospitals,” wrote Karen S. Palmer, adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University and the University of Toronto, and Dr. Bernard Ho, emergency and family physician in Toronto, and vice-chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare, in the Hill Times, December 18, 2024
World Health Organization says patient-paid health care fuels cycle of poverty
“Protecting people from financial hardship due to out-of-pocket health costs is fundamental to achieving health for all. Yet, WHO’s report shows that out-of-pocket spending remained the main source of health financing in 30 low- and lower middle-income countries. In 20 of these countries, more than half of total health spending in the country was paid for by patients out of their pocket, which contributes to the cycle of poverty and vulnerability,” stated a World Health Organization Report, December 12, 2024
Make America healthy again: Bernie Sanders
“We are the wealthiest nation on Earth. There is no rational reason as to why we are not the healthiest nation on Earth. We should be leading the world in terms of life expectancy, disease prevention, low infant and maternal mortality, quality of life and human happiness. Sadly, study after study shows just the opposite. Despite spending almost twice as much per capita on healthcare, we trail most wealthy nations in all these areas. . . Healthcare is a human right. The function of a rational healthcare system is to guarantee quality healthcare to all, not huge profits for the insurance industry,” wrote Bernie Sanders in The Guardian, December 31, 2024
Hospitals shouldn’t have to beg for donations
“On Dec. 28, there was full page ad in the Star, placed by Lakeridge Health Foundation, soliciting donations towards the purchase of five life-saving devices: Automated External Defibrillators (AED). . . I pay taxes. Those should be sufficient to equip a hospital in Ontario. That is the bargain between me and the government; tax me and take care of the health and education and general well-being of the citizens of Ontario. If the taxes don’t cover the costs, raise the taxes,” wrote Graeme Elliott in the Toronto Star, January 3, 2025
Former head of public health leaves with a message for successor: fix inequities
“We’ve seen inequities increase. There are decisions of the past coming home to roost. . .When the house is on fire, it’s hard to talk about fire prevention . . .Approach everything with a deep sense of humility . . . Recognize you have a really fabulous organization full of skilled and passionate people … Rely on that strength but support them because they’re tired, too. Everyone who has been involved in the COVID response is depleted,” said Dr. Eileen de Villa, head of Toronto Public Health, whose last day was January 3, 2025, to the Toronto Star, January 2, 2025
And some good news: Manitoba care home caters to residents’ spiritual needs
“It’s part of our holistic care. We don’t only care for bodies, but we also care for spirits — everyone, whether they are religious or not, has a spirit, and is interested in the meaning of their lives,” said Michelle Thiessen, who leads a spiritual care team at Winnipeg’s Holy Family Home, to the Winnipeg Free Press, January 2, 2025
Effective health care needs precision in collecting data
“It’s time for Canada to update its health policies and integrate the collection of ethnicity data—not to perpetuate bias, but to ensure truly inclusive and effective health care tailored to its multicultural population. . . Legislation informed by scientific insight is crucial to advancing health equity, addressing ethnic disparities, and ensuring that all Canadian patients receive the best possible care…. in an increasingly personalized health-care landscape. Furthermore, diversity among professionals in research and clinical fields is needed to engage underrepresented communities, build trust, and foster genuine inclusion,” wrote Pierre D. Sarr, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in the Dr. Juliet Daniel Lab at the Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research at McMaster University, in the Hill Times, December 30, 2024
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