Quick Links Visit our website Who we are How we work What we do Community Events Who says we can't afford quality public care for our seniors? The South Island Health Coalition, supported by Greater Victoria Seniors, Citizens Accountability Group for Health, and the Council of Canadians, invites you to an ACCOUNTABILITY FORUM on Residential Care and Seniors' Health Services. FACT: B.C. cut more than 2500 long-term care beds between 2001 and 2004 FACT: In 2005-2006 B.C. spent $1874 per capita on residential care compared with $3201 spent by Newfoundland. FACT: B.C. slipped from SECOND to SIXTH place in per capita spending on health between 2001 and 2006. Want to know more? Come and ask questions of the panel at: First Metropolitan United Church Hall 932 Balmoral Road, Victoria March 29 2008 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. For more information, call: Carol Pickup at 475-0454 Resources   The BCHC "ABC's of Stopping P3s" Campaign Action Kit is now available for download!     This kit is a "how-to" guide that's packed with resources for community activists looking to start or grow a coalition in their area. Click here for more information	March 2008 Mark Your Calendars! The BC Health Coalition proudly presents: For more information, call 604-681-7945 or email info@bchealthcoalition.ca Click here to read more Take Action - BCHC gets ready to respond to "new" provincial health legislation The BC Health Coalition is preparing for major changes to provincial health care legislation, changes that will likely make even more room for private clinics and private insurance in BC. The provincial government's 2008 Throne Speech announced coming amendments to the Medicare Protection Act that could make even more patients vulnerable to health care privatization and profiteering. These changes would leave British Columbia with some of the weakest medicare protection rules in the country. The Speech announced that the amendments will "define" the five principles of the Canada Health Act - accessibility, universality, portability, comprehensiveness, and public administration - and add a sixth principle of "sustainability". The BC government also announced other amendments to introduce "individual choice" and "personal responsibility" into health care legislation. The BC Health Coalition will be watching closely to see how such amendments impact Medicare in BC, particularly the ability for all British Columbians to have equal access to health care regardless of ability to pay. Stay tuned for more on this in the weeks to come!! Demand health care that is accessible and universal! Click here to send an e-mail Health Minister George Abbott NOW and demand that the government prohibit the charging of user-fees and extra billing by any for-profit health care provider for publicly insured medical services. Queue jumping insurance - will the BC government uphold the law and protect patients? The Canadian Doctors for Medicare recently took the BC government to task for allowing the Alberta-based Acure Health Corporation to offer private "queue jumping" insurance to patients on wait lists. The company promises to move customers to one of its affiliated private surgical clinics if they have waited more than 45 days. These "medical partners" include the Cambie Surgical Clinic run by current Canadian Medical Association President Brian Day, and the False Creek Surgical Centre. This practice clearly violates protections in both federal and provincial health care legislation. But will Health Minister George Abbott uphold the law? And, most importantly, will he implement the positive, public solutions that have been proven to reduce wait times for all British Columbians? The actions of Acure Health Corporation clearly contravene both the Canada Health Act and BC's Medicare Protection Act, as it is illegal in British Columbia to sell private duplicate insurance for services already covered by MSP. Evidence from Australia and the UK shows that private insurance is does not take pressure off the public system and in fact erodes the fairness and efficiencies of quality public health care that is accessible to all, regardless of their income. The BCHC urges all citizens to write to Health Minster Abbott and ask him to put an immediate halt to Acure's encroachment into B.C. and to immediately expand on the existing positive public solutions for wait times! Click here to download the BCHC/CCPA report "Why Wait: Public Solutions to Cure Surgical Waitlists" Calling all seniors' health activists! Seniors health activists from across the province will gather on May 3rd to strategize to create a year-long campaign to demand solutions for seniors' health care. Dr. Patricia Baird, who chaired the Seniors' Council on Aging and Seniors, will be the key note speaker Click here to download a registration form Click here for more information return to top
BC Health Coalition • 411 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, BC V6B 1X4 P: 604-681-7945 • F: 604-681-7947 • Email: info@bchealthcoalition.ca