BC FORUM Members in Action!

July, 2009

A written contribution by Millie Canessa, BC FORUM member

What happened to the Romanow Report?

In 2002 Canada’s federal Liberal government commissioned the Honourable Roy Romanow to research and review the future of Canada’s healthcare system.

In its report, the ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE IN CANADA proposed, (among others), the following recommendations to Canada’s healthcare system:

1. SUSTAINING MEDICARE - The issue needs to be assessed from three dimensions, - services, needs and resources.

2. HEALTH CARE, CITIZENSHIP AND FEDERALISM - Create a Health Council of Canada to facilitate collaborative leadership in health.

3. INFORMATION, EVIDENCE AND IDEAS - Establishment of electronic health records for each Canadian.

4. INVESTING IN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS - Review current education and training for health care providers.

5. PRIMARY HEALH CARE AND PREVENTION - Implement primary health care and transform Canada’s health care system.

6. IMPROVING ACCESS, ENSURING QUALITY - Use the new diagnostic Services Fund to shorten waiting times for diagnostic services. Implement better ways of managing wait lists.

7. RURAL AND REMOTE COMMUNITIES - Establish a new Rural and Remote Access fund to support new approaches for delivering health care services to people in rural and remote communities.

8. HOME CARE: THE NEXT ESSENTIAL SERVICE - Revise the Canada Health Act to include coverage of home care services. Expand the Canada Health Act to include coverage for post-acute home care, including medication management and rehabilitation.

9. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS - Take steps to integrate prescription drugs into Canada’s health care system. Establish a new National Drug Agency to control costs and evaluate new and existing drugs. Review aspects of Canadian patent law.

10. A NEW APPROACH TO ABORIGINAL HEALTH - Address the serious disparities in health for Canada’ Aboriginal peoples.

11. HEALTH CARE AND GLOBALIZATION - Take clear and immediate steps to protect Canada’s health care system from possible challenges under international law and trade agreements, and to build alliances within the international community. Play a leadership role in international efforts to improve health and strengthen healthcare systems in developing countries,

What happened to the report and its recommendations?

Why have successive federal governments not implemented the recommended changes to health care? What benefit has the Canadian taxpayer received for their $1.5 million contribution?

Thousands of Canadians expressed support for the Romanow Commission recommended changes to health care, and through letters, emails, petitions and public meetings, urged both federal and provincial governments to enact legislation and implement the recommendations, immediately.

Poll after poll, enquiry after enquiry, continue to show that thousands of Canadians support Medicare, and even suggest that publicly funded health care is sustainable. Why do federal and provincial governments continue to ignore the wishes of their constituents? Do they believe governments are only accountable to the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation, Fraser Institute, or corporate sponsors?

Or perhaps, the federal government is waiting until August 2009, when Canada, Mexico and the United States will again meet behind closed doors to discuss an agenda for further integration between the three countries, under the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP). It is possible such an agreement could have a direct impact on Canada’s publicly funded healthcare system.

Yes, Canada’s healthcare system requires change, but we must ensure it remains publicly funded and administered, under the guidelines and principles of the Canada Health Act. These are among the Romanow Commission’s strongest recommendations. Medicare has served Canada well for over 40 years!

Canadians have waited patiently for answers. It is now time that the Harper federal government enacts legislation and begins implementing the changes recommended by the ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE IN CANADA.