|
News Release Privatizing Health Care: No Debate Needed July 5, 1995 The MRG issued the following media release on July 5: Yesterday, the Canadian Medical Association wisely chose to reject a resolution calling for user fees and a two-tiered health care system. Although the vote was close, the delegates who rejected the resolution should be congratulated for putting the public interest ahead of narrow self-interest. Unfortunately, the delegates passed a resolution calling for public debate and discussion about privatization. Such a debate is not only unnecessary, it will be destructive. First, calling for a debate implies that there is a serious division of opinion. The Canada Health Act, legislation that enshrines universality, was passed unanimously by Parliament. Polls consistently show that Canadians overwhelmingly support our medical system, and the principle of universality. Second, calling for a debate implies that privatization may solve the problems of the health care system. These problems are a result of inefficiencies within health care delivery, and cutbacks in federal transfer payments to the provincial governments which threaten the health of Canadians both through cuts to social programs, and restriction of health care funding. We know the effects of privatization, and they will not address these problems. We see what privatization does when we look at the United States. There, we see a health care system that is far less efficient and more costly than ours, and leaves many without adequate coverage. We see what privatization does when we look at dental care in Canada. Visits to physicians are virtually identical across income groups in Canada. Within the privatized dental system, however, Canadians in the lowest income quintile are only half as likely to see a dentist as those within the top quintile. Privatization will only lead to more, not less, money spent on health care. The money will be spent less equitably, and the poor, already threatened by social service cutbacks, will suffer further. Third, we need a debate about some real solutions, and arguments about privatization draw us away from this debate. Issues that need discussion include understanding the link between poverty and poor health, and the reduction in social expenditures and poor health. We need to debate how we can persuade our federal politicians to stop transfer payment cuts. We need to address inefficiencies in the health care system, particularly those caused by the fee-for-service system that prevents effective management, while reinforcing unnecessary health care delivery. The Medical Reform Group congratulates the Canadian Medical Association for their rejection of two-tiered health care. We call on them to stop the destructive and wasteful discussion, and move on to address some real solutions to very real health care problems. Subject Headings: Abortion
Rights Community
Health Community
Health Centres Drug
Substitution Epidemiology
Epidemiology/Community
Medicine Health
Administration Health
Care Budgets Health
Care Cost Containment Health
Care Costs Health
Care Delivery Health
Care Finance & Fund-Raising Health
Care in Canada Health
Care in Ontario Health
Care in the U.K. Health
Care in the U.S. Health
Care Myths Health
Care Reform Health
Care Resources Health
Care Services Health
Care Workers Health
Clinics Health
Determinants Health
Economics Health
Expenditures Health
Issues Health
Policy Health
Policy/Seniors – Health
Service Organizations Health/Social
Justice Issues Health
Statistics Health/Strategic
Planning History
Hospitals
Labour
Medicine Medical
Associations Medical
Costs/Foreign Medical
Education Medical
Ethics Medical
Human Resources Medical
Personnel Medical
Research Funding Medicare
Medication
Use Medication
Use/Seniors NAFTA/Health
Occupational
Health & Safety Patients'
Rights Pharmaceuticals
Physician
Compensation Physician
Human Resources Pro-Choice
Issues Public
Health Publications/Health
Social
Policy Women's
Health Sources |