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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
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