Debunking the Myth of Unsustainable Medicare

Some contend our public health care system is unsustainable and propose for-profit health care as the ‘solution’. It is a myth that Medicare is unsustainable, but there are critical changes needed to improve Canada’s health care system.

‘Debunking the Myth of Unsustainable Medicare’ will explore the myth and needed changes with Dr. Robert Woollard – Canadian Doctors for Medicare, Adam Lynes-Ford – BC Health Coalition and Michael Goldberg – Past Research Director SPARC-BC , Sunday, November 27, 2011 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm at the Sechelt Seniors Centre, 5604 Trail Ave. This public meeting is co-sponsored by the Sunshine Coast Labour Council, Sunshine Coast Senior Citizens (COSCO-BC) and Sunshine Coast Teachers’ Association.

Improving the quality and efficiency of health care matters to all Canadians. Finding better, less expensive ways of providing care and preventing illnesses cannot be achieved by maintaining the status quo. Canadian Doctors for Medicare identifies the top 10 ideas to improve quality of care, improve health outcomes and provide value for money:

1. Expand access to family health teams, family physicians and community health centres;

2. Expanded electronic health records will aid diagnoses, help prevent adverse drug interactions and reduce emergency room visits;

3. Implement proven strategies to reduce surgical wait lists;

4. Create National Pharmacare – one study pegs the annual savings at $10B;

5. Educate for health promotion, disease prevention and good nutrition;

6. Create a national body to coordinate and distribute up-to-date, evidence based research and practices to health care providers at all levels;

7. Use health resources according to best practices and avoid over-prescribing and over-use of diagnostics;

8. Increase access to affordable dental health care;

9. Improve and integrate planning for and training of health care practitioners; and

10. Focus on building improved relationships between patients and their health care providers.