Turning the Tide Part I – Saving Medicare for Canadians

For more than three decades Canadians took pride in having one of the best health care systems in the world. In recent years, however, that pride has turned to dismay as reports of system failure and patient suffering proliferate across Canada. Long waiting lists for treatment, crowded emergency departments and unacceptable delays for diagnostic testing are now the Canadian norm, rather than the exception. Timely access to needed care is no longer a cornerstone of the Medicare program. This is not what Canadians envisioned for Medicare. British Columbia’s physicians share the public’s concern over the current and future state of our medical care system.

In spite of the seriousness of the current state of affairs, Canadians have a brief window of opportunity over the next few short years to restore and renew the health care system. However, before this can happen, a focused and objective discussion of the issues must occur. Rhetoric and ideology must be set aside. The public must take control of this discussion, as there are hard choices to be made around the breadth and scope of Canada’s health care programs. The principles of accountability and sustainability will be at the forefront in making those choices.

Many see the coming millennium as a time of hope and fresh beginnings. It is, therefore, appropriate that this paper is about the future restoration of excellence to our health care system. In this regard, the doctors of British Columbia stand ready with the public to identify those aspects of Medicare that are to be preserved and those that require revision.

This document provides information concerning the fundamental challenges facing Canada’s health care system. They are complex, as are the policy choices to be considered. An exhaustive examination of each of these matters is not feasible for this paper, however, a concise synopsis is within reach.

The goal of this paper is to lay the groundwork for a fundamental discussion about the future direction of our health care system. To this end the paper proposes a revised set of core objectives for Canada’s health care system, which focus on patient care, system and management issues – objectives which protect and enhance the principles of the Canada Health Act. These key objectives provide a framework for developing a more sustainable and accountable health care program.

This is the first of a two part document, with Part II to follow with an assessment of potential reform initiatives, each gauged against the framework outlined in this document.

For the full policy paper, please see “Turning the Tide Part I – Saving Medicare for Canadians”.