“The care economy is too important to surrender it to market forces,” says economist in prize speech
This week’s edition of who is saying what about public health care is compiled by Pat Van Horne.
The care economy is too important to be left to private equity: economist
Private equity-backed companies are the new giants of capitalism and are now extending their reach into care. The same patterns are unfolding across long-term care hospitals home care and child care globally: public and non-profit operators struggle while private investors reap growing profits all fuelled by public funds… The care economy is too important — both economically and personally — to surrender it to market forces,” writes Armine Yalnizyan in her speech for the Galbraith Prize in Economics, delivered last month in Toronto and published by the Toronto Star, June 18, 2024
Patient reflects on his adventure with Canada’s health care system
“I am so grateful that I spent seven nights sleeping in hospital beds while a wonderful team of dedicated medical professionals pumped me full of antibiotics and did everything in their power to make sure I left the hospital with the same number of limbs I’d been admitted with. I absolutely get that if I were an American dealing with the same condition I could have lost my leg and my livelihood. And the only expense I paid out of pocket was the taxi fare to the ER,” wrote Mark Leiren-Young in The Tyee, June 17, 2024
Letter writer calls for health care, not beer
“Apparently, Premier Doug Ford and his government are using valuable time and funds to put beer and wine in convenience stores. As a resident of a rural community in the province of Ontario, I would far rather see time and money spent on providing adequate health-care facilities, doctors and nurse practitioners to those of us who have no primary care provider and very little hope of attaining one in the near future… Wake up, Ford. Realign your priorities to meet the real needs of the people of Ontario, the people who voted you into power,” wrote Sharon Phelps in The Toronto Star, May 25, 2024
Health care principles don’t apply to us, says First Nation Chief
“Health care is supposed to be universal — it’s supposed to be comprehensive, accessible, affordable and properly funded… None of those principles are being applied,” said Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation to CTV News, June 14, 2024
Dental care program facing problems
“(As of the end of May), around 120,000 people have already used services under the plan, and two million seniors have registered for coverage… But tensions are flaring as some 19,500 providers have yet to sign on to the plan, even as more than a million Canadians are set to soon become eligible for the aid… The government has created a portal that will open in July that will allow providers to participate in the plan without formally signing up, testing out the program on a claim-by-claim basis,” reported The Toronto Star, May 31, 2024
Newfoundland-Labrador government announces new health care facility … in 5 or 6 years
“The government is very good when it comes to the plans. Not so much on the delivery I figure,” said provincial NDP Leader Jim Dinn to CBC News, June 17, 2024
Government announces hospital for Moose Factory Island
“This marks a significant step forward in fulfilling a longstanding promise. However, the delay in prioritizing the health and well-being of First Nations highlights the urgent need for culturally informed care that upholds First Nations inherent and Treaty rights and our right to self-determination. . . We expect the government to continue fulfilling its commitments to First Nations by ensuring transformative change towards First Nations-led health care programs and services. This includes sustainable funding, increased capacity and improved healthcare facilities that are strengths-based and culturally informed,” said National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak Assembly of First Nations (AFN), in a government of Canada press release, June 17, 2024
Hospital felt like a MASH Unit
“I felt like we were in some sort of field hospital in the middle of the war… They have no ability to call for the nurse. They just have to yell,” said Ann-Marie Zammit, whose father died at Welland, Ontario hospital, to CBC News, June 16, 2024
Meanwhile, south of the border, health care spending per person up from $14,423 in 2023 to $15,074 in 2024
“Healthcare spending in the U.S. is projected to have risen 7.5% in 2023 to $4.8 trillion, federal data showed on Wednesday, outpacing the projected annual gross domestic product growth rate of 6.1%. Spending on Medicaid and private health insurance drove the growth, with the insured share of the population surging to a historic high of 93%,” reported Reuters, June 13, 2024
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