Health-care health a long-term challenge
A newly-released survey conducted by the Canadian Medical Association into the health of the nation's medical system has found that many people across Canada believe the system is broken and heading for trouble.
The findings, while troubling, also point to the chance to find solutions and formulate workable long-term plans to ensure all Canadians, including people in West Central Alberta, have access to high-quality health care today and down the road.
Based on input from thousands of respondents across Canada, the ‘Voices Into Action' survey and report is part of the CMA's ‘National Dialogue on Health Care' project, aimed at gathering public input in an attempt to formulate a ‘strategic vision' for Canadian health care.
Among the conclusions of the survey are the following:
• The system is failing Canadians, especially vulnerable populations;
• The system is fractured, transitions are not well managed and people cannot get care where and when they need it:
• The system is moving from an acute-care paradigm but has not developed (into) a system to manage chronic conditions;
• And that there is a need for transparent and accountable systems to develop national standards and benchmarks.
In summarizing the findings of the survey, CMA president Jeff Turnbull said, “Without doubt, concerns about our health-care system run deep. We heard that there is a ‘moral imperative' to fix the system, but that our biggest adversary is apathy.
“Overall, there is a strong sense that health-care providers and members of the public must join together and demand of decision-makers a better health-care system. If not for ourselves, then for the sake of our children.”
As the most expensive public sector department, both at the federal and provincial levels, health care is and will certainly remain of interest to Canadians of all ages.
And with economic pressures on the rise these days, federal and provincial politicians will certainly be under increased pressure over the next months to balance health care and other pressing needs such as education and other social programs.
If the new Alberta premier decides that striking that good balance will best be served by markedly increasing privatization of the provincial health system, it could create an even deeper rift in the already fragile relationship between Ottawa and Edmonton. And that would be anything but good news for ordinary Albertans.
The new CMA survey makes it obvious that cooperation, not conflict, is what is needed now and in the months to come if the health system is to be improved over the long term. Hopefully both federal and provincial politicians will be willing and able to take that message to heart.
