Quebec, Alberta Introduce Proposals to Weaken Public Health
Care
Both
the Charest government in Quebec and the Klein
government in Alberta
have put forward proposals that will weaken public health care by increasing
the role of private health care providers in the system.
Charest’s
Liberal government introduced a bill in the National Assembly following last
year’s Supreme Court ruling that the Quebec
government had to allow people to pay for health care they could not receive in
a timely manner from the public system.The bill enables patients in Quebec
for the first time to purchase private insurance to cover health care services
provided entirely in the public system. However, the Quebec government’s proposal goes well
beyond what was required by the court by allowing doctors to practice both in
the public and in a private system.This
is in direct contradiction to one of the fundamental principles of public
health care in Quebec
– the complete separation of public and private systems.
In
Alberta, the
Klein government’s “Third Way”
on health care comes after almost five years of consultation with different
vested interests, the majority of whom stand to benefit greatly from any
privatization in the public system.The
Health Policy Framework released by the Alberta
government last month says that Alberta’s
health system is founded on five values: patient-focused health care; delivery
of quality health services; timely and fair access to services; accountability
for evidence-based investments, fiscal management and responsive service; and
increased choice and control over one’s health and wellness.These contrast sharply with the five
principles enshrined in the 1984 Canada Health Act – comprehensiveness,
universality, accessibility, portability and public administration.
The
“Third Way”
document states: “Albertans want the freedom to choose the type of provider and
mode of service delivery that bests suits their needs and circumstances.Albertans are open to having their health
needs met in new and innovative ways and by different service providers … Many
Albertans have shown a willingness to pay a reasonable amount for customized
services – provided that they obtain added value, benefit and convenience.”
According
to media reports, Alberta
is preparing a massive public relations campaign in the province to support the
“Third Way”
changes to health care.The purpose of
such a campaign would be to shift Albertans’ views on healthcare so they no
longer think of it as an “entitlement” – in other words, believe they have a
right to health care – and start to think of it as a “shared responsibility” –
one that they must pay for.