health care

Prodding a passive government into caring about the health of Canadians

| September 28, 2012

In the early 1980s a patient who needed surgery at an Ontario hospital very often had to pay an extra fee to the anesthesiologist, even though that same doctor would be paid a negotiated fee by the universal health insurance system, OHIP, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.

When this writer required emergency surgery in Ottawa during that period, an anesthesiologist bluntly told him: "We run a closed shop, here. If any anesthesiologist wants to practice in this hospital she or he must extra bill. Otherwise we'll see to it that they don't work here."

This practice of extra billing had become very widespread in a number of provinces by 1984, though it seemed obviously unfair to a great many people.

Health activists in Halifax deliver message ahead of health ministers meetings

Health Care activists from the Nova Scotia Citzens' Health Care Network and the Council of Canadians gather to deliver a message to Nova Scotia's provincial government in advance of the health ministers meetings in Halifax in late September.

Nova Scotia NDP MLA Howard Epstein receives the message on behalf of the provincial government and the Health Minister.

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health care public health care health accord Canada Health Act

Town crier announces the will of the people for a 2014 health accord

Adrienne Silnicki

| September 25, 2012

On September 24, the Council of Canadians and Nova Scotia Citizens' Health Care Network hosted an event outside the Department of Health and Wellness in Halifax. Using a town crier to announce the will of the people for a 2014 health accord, the Council and NSCHCN brought attention to the meeting of Canada's health ministers in Halifax later this week (September 27-28) -- you can watch the event here.

It's in our nature to be healthy

David Suzuki

| September 18, 2012

One of the joys of being a grandparent is getting to see the world again through the eyes of a child. Recently, I found my three-year-old grandson picking at a scab on his arm. It brought a flood of memories because I used to do the same thing. It was amazing to watch the blood from an injury dry and, over days, form a scab. Before that scab was ready to fall off, I would pick at it to see what was underneath, and, wonder of wonders – it was fresh, pink skin!

A strategy for home and long-term residential care in the 2014 Health Accord

Adrienne Silnicki

| September 18, 2012

Universal health care is in jeopardy. Stephen Harper has been quite clear in the media that he will not meet with all of the premiers to create a 2014 Health Accord. According to Harper, the deal is already done. In December 2011, finance minister Jim Flaherty was flown into a meeting of the provincial finance ministers. He left a sheet of paper on their desks during the lunch hour which outlined the amount of money the provinces would receive in federal health transfers from 2014-2024. The paper outlined Harper government's plan to decrease the current six per cent escalating transfer by tying it to GDP. This will reduce the transfer by $36 billion from 2017 to 2024. Provinces simply cannot afford this loss.

Audit of private clinic reveals epidemic of extra-billing

August 22, 2012 |

Medicare advocates are calling on the provincial government to take swift action against the clinic to ensure that the principles of equity and accessibility are preserved.

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HEU health care medicare privatization

Sir Michael Marmot: Fair society, healthy lives

Sir Michael Marmot delivers a keynote address on 'Fair society, healthy lives' to the annual general council meeting of the Canadian Medical Association in Yellowknife.

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Canadian politics health care social determinants of health

Addressing health inequalities requires looking beyond individual responsibility

Iglika Ivanova

| August 14, 2012

A new report by the Canadian Medical Association provides a timely reminder that money buys better health, even in a country with a universal public health-care system. A poll commissioned by the CMA found a large and increasing gap between the health status of Canadians in lower income groups (household income less than $30,000) and their wealthier counterparts (household income over $60,000).

press release

Income gap related to health gap in Canada

The CMA says physicians are finding it "particularly worrisome" that a widening gap in health status appears to be separating Canadians in different income brackets.

"When it comes to the well-being of Canadians, the old saying that wealth equals health continues to ring true," CMA President John Haggie commented as the CMA released poll results that were used to compile its 2012 National Report Card on Canada's health care system.

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Canadian politics health care

Why we congratulated the Council of the Federation in Halifax

Adrienne Silnicki

| July 31, 2012

I experienced two different meetings of the Council of the Federations in Halifax last week. One was inside the Marriott Harbourfront Hotel and it was filled with premiers, their staff, members of the media, interviews, and NGO workers all holding their breath to see if anyone would talk about their issue and what they would say.

health care

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