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The adventure so far
By Zoltan Nagy, Executive Vice-President of CIMCA
The Beginnings
It was almost two and half years ago that a small group of physicians in British Columbia banded together to form the "Charter Health Fund," a non-profit society, to intervene on behalf of a handful of private clinics in the well known legal battle: the Chaoulli Case. The group's intervenor status and submission was critical to the successful outcome of the Case. These private clinics from BC provided practical evidence that rather than being a menace to Canadians, private health care facilities had been of great benefit to the public system.
In addition to fulfilling its mandate, the Charter Health Fund taught an important lesson to private clinics: there is tremendous strength in a group of organizations banded together for a common purpose. Although this lesson is hardly revolutionary, the Charter Health Fund was the first attempt of the members of an often vilified industry to amplify the voice of private health care providers. Out of this idea was born the Canadian Independent Medical Clinics Association one year ago.
Why an Association?
"Why would competing private clinics consider joining an association?" we've been asked quite a few times. The answer is simple: Because we can help CIMCA members do things better and because we can help raise the profile of the private health care industry.
There is probably no other legitimate industry in Canada that has been the target of more marginalization attempts by interest groups, politicians, health "experts," the media, and politicians. While private health care is a non-issue in the rest of the developed world, it has become convenient fodder for emotional (albeit consistently fruitless) debates in a variety of civic, academic, and political arenas in Canada. It is one of CIMCA's objectives to support members (and through them the industry) by promoting information exchanges, disseminating best practice standards, developing national accreditation standards, and providing this blossoming industry with a common, united voice.
As CIMCA has become more well known and as average Canadians (non health care providers, patients, concerned citizens) started to seek us out and provide encouragement and support, we realized that our mandate goes beyond representing an industry. Our mandate also requires us to speak up on behalf of those dramatically growing groups of individuals and organizations that support and demand substantial reform in Canadian health care in pursuit of improved access to high quality and timely health care for all Canadians. CIMCA serves as a rallying point for potential members.
What Have We Achieved So Far?
CIMCA made its first mark with an international healthcare summit in November 2005 that attracted prestigious roster of speakers and participants from across Canada and the world. The Saving Medicare-Strategies and Solutions conference explored the legal, economic and medical challenges of Medicare and identified the new points of departure that include more private sector involvement.
The Medical Post heralded the Conference as a "pivotal moment in Canadian history," and it was described by the BC Medical Journal as "the official beginning of a popular movement in Canada that eventually was successful in engaging politicians in a dialogue focused on the need for basic changes in the ideologically driven philosophy around state monopolization of medical insurance for our citizens." The conference attracted national media attention and raised the interest of the defenders of the status quo - some of whom showed up to protest outside the hotel. A book is being written on the proceedings, findings, and recommendations of the conference, and it is expected to be published this summer.
During the January federal election, CIMCA commissioned and released a national COMPAS poll on health care attitudes. The poll found, among other results, that over seven out of ten Canadians support the Supreme Court decision allowing supplementary private health insurance and care. It is becoming clear that more and more Canadians are saying yes to choice in health care.
Since its formation, CIMCA has generated more than 140 proactive national media stories, and CIMCA representatives are now being contacted on a regular basis by the media for the Association's views on health care issues. CIMCA directors are also regularly invited to deliver presentations on health care reform to various groups. CIMCA has pursued the cause of healthcare reform in the media and in the corridors of provincial legislatures. Most recently, CIMCA met with Alberta Minister of Health and Wellness Iris Evans to support Alberta's Health Policy Framework.
Our website has been registering a record number of hits continually. The website has been upgraded recently, and based on the number of visits, it is becoming a prime source of information for those following or participating in the great Canadian health care debate.
With the launch of Health Frontiers, an information hub on healthcare policy, technology and innovation, we expect to communicate regularly with tens of thousands of interested Canadians.
As a new organization that has the potential to stimulate and support a whole new industry and carry on as an advocate for health reform, we understand that we cannot grow without the support of our members and advocates. We would like to hear from you. Let us know how we can help you, what you expect from the Association, and what you would like to read about in Health Frontiers.
Pioneering change with your support,
Zoltan Nagy
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 Health Frontiers: Issue 1
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