National standards and universal access at issue.
from the Canadian Health Coalition
The federal government announced April 16 that it is terminating its funding of the Health Council of Canada.
“This announcement signals Harper’s intention to withdraw essential federal leadership from health care.”
Founded in 2003 after the Romanow Commission, the council's mandate is to provide accountability, oversight, planning and national coordination for the Canadian health care system.
"This announcement signals Harper's intention to withdraw essential federal leadership from health care."
"Medicare will not survive the withdrawal of the guardian of national standards and universal access to care for all Canadians regardless of where they live. This could mean the end of Canada's last and most loved social program," said Michael McBane, National Coordinator of the Canadian Health Coalition.
The council's achievements, said McBane, include the lowering of wait times and encouragement of innovation in the public health care system to ensure access to care.
"National surveys consistently show that Canadians and the provincial and territorial governments want federal leadership," he said. "Instead Harper is choosing to cut and run — cut the funding and then put distance between his government and universal health care."
Health care in Canada, he said, "is about to fragment into 14 separate systems operating independently from each other. The federal government is running away from its essential role as guardian of national standards and universal access to care for all Canadians regardless of where they live."
McBane called on provincial and territorial premiers to protect the vision of a national strategy and maintain financial support of the health council.
About Canadian Health Coalition
The Canadian Health Coalition is a public advocacy organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of Medicare.
Our membership is comprised of national organizations representing nurses, health care workers, seniors, churches, anti-poverty groups,
women and trade unions, as well as affiliated coalitions in 9 provinces and one territory.
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