Canadian Health Care Information

Everyone is offering ideas on how to fix our healthcare system. Here's my idea. Turn the keys over to the people who have the best qualifications for the job -- ordinary Canadian citizens who are full of common sense and experience. As payers and consumers of the service and as Canadians caring for and about each other, we have the unique right and responsibility to determine the nature and quality of services available. A recent Nanos poll(May, 2010) revealed that healthcare has reclaimed its long standing top spot among issues of concern to Canadians. Yet somehow, in spite of our concern, we continute to leave this vital matter to the so-called pros. No wonder so little changes.

We have known for many years that the current system is not financially sustainable. Every region of Canada has given the numbers showing healthcare to be the Pacman of all tax dollars. Nor is the system ethically sustainable. Waiting lists that began in 1982 continue with little change. The suffering that is present within those waitlines can neither be justified or tolerated. This is Canada. Surely we can do better.

A critical component for doing things better will be the active involvement of all Canadians. I am encouraged by the fairly recent formation of some national patient/consumer groups. If you haven't come across them, here they are. If you know of others, please let us know by leaving a comment.

Canadian Association for People Centered Health. Their tag line is: Giving the People a Voice; Being a Voice for the People. Led by a Canadian dentist, Dr. Vaughan Glover, this organization describes itself as grassroots and encourages the involvement of ordinary Canadians. Website

Patients Association of Canada. Their motto is: Patient Led. Patient Governed. Strengthening the patient voice in health care. Website

Patient Destiny. Started by Dr. Kevin Leonard of the University of Toronto, this group held its first town hall meeting in May, 2010. The focus of the group is patient empowerment through among other things, the electronic health record. Website

Canadian Patient Coalition. Their purpose is to bring the patient voice to health policy decision makers. They recently held a Canadian patient summit in March of 2010 to explore the ways in which the patient voice can be heard. Website

Each of these organizations values consumer voice; consumer choice. This is a good start to Canadians stepping into our rightful place as the decision makers for a healthcare system that is compassionate, effective and sustainable.