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Health care choice gets a lift
By Zoltan Nagy
Health care choice continues to press ahead. The latest step forward was the recent election of health care pioneer Dr. Brian Day as President-Elect of the Canadian Medical Association. Overall, the events of last three summers have heralded tectonic changes in the Canadian health care landscape. These positive developments make for a remarkable story.
The Chaoulli/Zeliotis case was heard before the Supreme Court of Canada in June 2004. Almost exactly one year later, in June 2005, the Supreme Court ruled that government imposed restrictions on private health insurance violate the Quebec Charter. Two months later in August, at the CMA's general meeting, physicians voted for more public private cooperation in health care delivery - this step signaled the impending departure of the medical profession from the status quo not seen for decades.
The summer of 2006 was even more spectacular in introducing change. In June, the Quebec Government tabled Bill 33, which will allow the purchase of private insurance in Quebec for hip and knee replacements, and for cataract surgeries. It is expected that the "procedures basket" will be expanded gradually, and that these health insurance products will be available for non-Quebec residents as well.
In August, at the CMA's annual general meeting in Charlottetown, delegates from across Canada elected Dr. Brian Day as president elect for 2006/2007, and president for 2007/2008. Dr. Day was nominated by the physicians of British Columbia in February 2006, and then confirmed by the CMA delegates at the AGM. Their decision was the culmination of an intense election campaign, which attracted considerable media attention. It was clear that in the post-Chaoulli era, the medical profession felt that with Dr. Day at the helm a long-awaited open discussion on the future of health care would be forthcoming. The winds of change are blowing in our favour more now than ever before.
To round up this eventful summer, the Canadian Constitution Foundation launched a constitutional court challenge (not unlike the Chaoulli/Zeliotis Supreme Court case in Quebec) against Alberta's restrictive health care laws that prevent patients from accessing private insurance to pay for medical treatments.
CIMCA had a very active summer as well with the launch of Health without Borders RADIO on July 1st. The show profiles the analysts and innovators of Canada's health care choice industry. What started as a pilot project has now become a weekly feature with an audience of 100,000 strong in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island, with plans to roll out the show in markets across Canada. The radio program showcases Canadians with vision and passion - passion to help people in need with excellent services and the vision to find and act on new solutions to existing problems.
Our Health Frontiers newsletter has been going strong. Although this is only the fourth issue, our original readership of 6,000 has now grown to 10,000 across Canada within less than five months. Thank you for all your comments, suggestions, ideas for new topics, constant feedbacks, and of course, for the new subscriber referrals. Please remember, new stories are always welcome.
In this issue, you can find out more about the building blocks of the Alberta court challenge launched a couple of weeks ago, read about Bert Brown's personal experience with our health care system (you'll be surprised), and find out why and how a "simple" license can dramatically change the positron emission tomography (PET) industry in Canada and thus help tens of thousands of cancer patients. Moreover, as an organization that promotes new medical technology and innovation, we are very pleased to present an inquisitive analysis of the National Pharmaceutical Strategy - you'll have many questions once you read it. Guaranteed.
With this fourth issue, we're launching a regular column that intends to dissect an often misunderstood concept and industry - health insurance. Kieran Bridge will bring us closer every month to a better appreciation of how and why health insurance is at the core of any health system, and how - if it's implemented properly - it can help in building a first rate health care system.
Pioneering change with your support,
Zoltan Nagy
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