Mixed reviews on health plan

Mixed reviews on health plan
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published Feb. 12, 2003

More money is a good thing, but it still won't cure all the problems with the Canadian health care system.
That was the general consensus this past week after Prime Minister Jean Chretien and the 10 provincial premiers reached an agreement to increase health care funding across the nation by $17.3 billion over the next three years, and by $34.8 billion over five years.
"I think this is good news for health care and Canadians," said Herb Dhaliwal, the minister of national resources and MP for Vancouver South - Burnaby. "Health care is the most important social program for Canadians and this puts it on a solid footing.
"It also ensure reform, accountability and transparency."
Dhaliwal said he is particularly pleased by the creation of a new Canada Health Council which will oversee spending of the new money and provide for 'consequences' if the provinces do not adhere to the five principles of health care.
But while Dhaliwal said the proposal will safeguard the public, newly appointed NDP health care critic Svend Robinson is not convinced the agreement will stop the trend towards privatization in the health care system.
"The fact is, the first ministers totally ignored one of the greatest threats to the medicare system and public health, and that is the growth of the private, for-profit health care corporations and the impact of privatization on health care," said the Burnaby- Douglas MP.
"We know that (BC Premier) Gordon Campbell will want to put more money in to support his corporate buddies in health care," Robinson said. "But there are still not enough funds after Paul Martin's budget cuts. Everyone forgets it was Paul Martin who slashed funding for health care. Jean Chretien is putting some of it back, but it's not enough, and there is no assurance it will be used to expand public health care."
Robinson was also critical of the fact that the agreement was not signed by the country's three territorial leaders.
"I met with the three (territorial) premiers this morning, and they all pointed out they have the highest infant mortality rates, tuberculosis is 17 times the Canadian average, and they have the lowest life expectancy," Robinson said. "They live in third world- life conditions in many part of the north and the prime minister ignored the recommendations in the Romanow report that requested he put more money on the table for the north."
According to documents posted on the federal government's Web site, the new health care accord will provide for an additional $17.3 billion in targeted health care spending over the next three years, and plus the creation of a new Canada Health Transfer program to allow the public to track how the money is spent.
"Together, we are taking a big step forward to strengthen our health care system to better serve the needs of Canadians," Chretien said in a press release.
In Victoria, Burnaby-Willingdon MLA John Nuraney said he has not fully reviewed the agreement, but his initial reaction is positive.
"I think in principle it's a good thing," Nuraney said. "As you know, the contribution from the federal government has been diminishing over the years, and now that want to beef it up - that is an excellent idea.
Nuraney also downplayed Robinson's concerns about privatization and said the new agreement will abide by the recommendations contained in the recent Health Care Commission report tabled by former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow.
"Romanow made that point very clear that under no circumstances should the universality or accessibility of the health care system be affected, and that is one of the bottom lines," he said. "It is the private services that are subsidiary to health care that are being looked at (for privatization).
"What the public really wants at this point is something to to happen to make health care more efficient. the waiting lists are intolerable, and that is a situation that cannot be allowed to continue."
Nuraney's comments run contrary to the point of view of Hospital Employee's Union president Chris Allnutt, who believes the new health care funding could slow down the move towards privatization.
"I hope this can be some sort of new beginning to rejuvenate the public health care system," Allnutt said Thursday. "But obviously, it also needs to be tied a change in direction from the provincial government too.
"When there is extreme pressure on the bottom line there is always a move to exclude people from the decision making process. but now with the additional funds I think there is a need and a necessity for involving people ini the decision making process.
Allnutt is also concerned about recent comments from the Health Employers Association of B.C. that disciplinary action could be taken against employees from Royal Columbian Hospital who participated in a day of protest Tuesday in Vancouver.
Workers at Royal Columbian Hospital have been setting up information pickets outside the region's largest health care facility ever since the middle of last month.