Health files
A roundup of who is saying what about public health care. The next Health files will return in January 2023.
Do health care right – a list for Ottawa and the provinces
“We got universal, accessible medicare — our most popular social program — half a century ago because the federal government set broad conditions and required accountability, while still allowing each jurisdiction considerable flexibility in applying the conditions . . . This system deteriorated when the matching money dependent on the broad conditions — including no fees for necessary care — gradually disappeared, in part due to the obscure transfers of federal tax points in place of some of the federal money,” write Pat Armstrong, professor emeritus, York University and Canadian Health Coalition Board member, and Hugh Armstrong, professor emeritus, Carleton University, Toronto Star, Dec. 17. 2022.
Better access to medical care in the north would improve quality of care
“If care is being provided in your own community or at least in your own region, then the likelihood of that care being culturally safe for Inuit is better. People don’t mind going from a smaller community to Kuujjuaq or Puvirnituq as much as they might mind coming to Montreal,” said Richard Budgell, a Labrador Inuk and assistant professor in the department of family medicine at McGill University, CBC News, Dec. 20, 2022.
Trudeau says conditions on funding his only leverage to improve health outcomes
“If I were to send people all the money they need in the provinces, there is no guarantee that … folks would be waiting less time in the hospitals. There is no point putting more money into a broken system. I will fully participate in the funding of it, as long as real improvements are made,” stated Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, CBC News, Dec. 20, 2022
Survey shows income and general health impact how Canadians feel about aging
“This survey fills an important gap in our understanding of how older Canadians think about and experience aging today, and how this may be similar or different depending on one’s age, socio-economic status and level of health. This kind of research is essential to helping us as a society to move beyond the casual stereotypes about seniors and ‘old people,’” said Keith Neuman, Senior Associate at the Environics Institute, CTV News, Dec. 20, 2022.
Forcing patients into nursing homes not making any difference – except for the people being moved against their wishes
“The reason the cleared beds have not resulted in shorter wait times for admissions to hospitals is likely because of the high volume of patients swamping emergency departments . . . At the same time that we’re moving a lot of patients out, there’s just an astronomical tsunami of patients that are coming in,” said emergency department physician and Don Valley East MPP Dr. Adil Shamji, Toronto Star, Dec. 17, 2022. The Ontario Health Coalition and the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly are challenging “Bill 7”, under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
No permanent paid sick days just makes things worse
“I feel like the government is telling us we are not important for them. They want us to work for Canada, no matter how, and in what conditions. They are trying to tell us we are some kind of machine,” said Daniella, a personal support worker at two long-term-care homes, to CTV News, Dec. 20, 2022.
