Reality check on health-care costs
Sunday, April 4th, 2010
Apr 04 2010
The headlines scream health-care costs are out of control… In fact, a closer examination reveals that medicare’s expenses have been relatively stable and the best cost-control option focuses on enhanced quality… Only about two-thirds of Canadian health care is directly funded by the provinces and their costs barely increased over those 17 years from 6.9 per cent to 7.7 per cent of GDP. Furthermore, the Canada Health Act covers only hospitals and doctors. The costs of those programs have actually decreased from 5.3 per cent to 5 per cent of GDP…
Canadians should be somewhat concerned about our health system’s costs. But the road to sustainability runs through improved quality, not user charges or privatization.
Tags: economy, featured, pharmaceutical
Posted in Health Debates | No Comments »
Hospital funding plan could open the door to privatized care
Sunday, March 14th, 2010
Mar 14 2010
…the province should be clear about the purpose of the reform. Is the goal to recoup billions to pay down the deficit, as has been suggested by some media stories? Or is the goal to reallocate dollars to desperately needed community services?
…Ontario hospitals are already very efficient. Some, like the University Health Network and Trillium Health Centre, are international leaders in quality and efficiency. The premier should clarify why the province is considering such a potentially disruptive competitive strategy when the available alternative is to cooperatively spread these exemplary best practices.
Posted in Health Debates | No Comments »
Recent Comments