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| Five days left! Help the BCHC reach our goal of 5000 letters to Campbell on behalf of BC's seniors and people with disabilities | |
The BCHCs "Broken Promises" campaign has set a goal of sending 5000 letters to Premier Campbell by April 14th - the day the provincial election campaign begins, demanding quality and accessible health care for seniors and people with disabilities!
The government has broken its promise to build 5,000 new not-for-profit residential care beds by 2006, and it continues its drive towards private for-profit care despite clear evidence that for-profit facilities maintain lower patient-to-staff ratios and quality of care.
A strong message in support of BC's seniors is the first step in getting the government to listen and start acting on citizens' demands.
Take action NOW! and send an e-mail to Premier Campbell and help us reach 5000 letters by April 14th!
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| Regional Roundup: Heath care activists organize around the province in lead up to May election | |
| Battle for publicly built and operated community hospitals a hot election issue in North Island and Comox ridings | |
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The Citizens for Quality Health Care coalition continues to focus on ensuring two new fully functioning acute care hospitals with no loss of current services, one in Campbell River and the other in Courtenay/Comox, will not be built as Public Private Partnerships (P3s). In light of this issue, they hope that citizens will consider voting for Medicare Supporters when they go to the polls on May 12. The Coalition of concerned individuals has been campaigning heavily since coming together in February 2006 to oppose an initial proposal by the Vancouver Island Health Authority's (VIHA) to close two existing hospitals and build a centralized regional P3 built hospital in a rural area outside both communities. Through intensive community engagement, education and media exposure, lobbying of decision makers and politicians and working with health sector workers, the citizens' coalition have played a key role in the Strathcona Regional Hospital Board's rejection of the one regional hospital option and renewed support for two fully functional acute care hospitals with expanded beds and services. The latest motion passed by the Strathcona Regional Hospital Board calls on VIHA to change its latest proposal and increase the minimum number of beds for Campbell River Hospital from 59 90, with at least 110 beds for the Comox Valley and new enhanced services and beds to be shared equitably between the two communities. A response to this motion is expected from VIHA by April. |
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| Mid-Island Health Coalition hosts community education event | |
The Mid-Island Health Coalition will be hosting a public education event on Saturday April 18th, 1-3pm, Room #1 at Bevan Park in Nanaimo. The event is titled, "Lobbying for Health Care- It's Everyone's Job!" and hopes to attract citizens from the Mid-Island who would like to learn how to have their concerns heard by the decisions makers within the health care system. The Coalition came together in January of 2008 with the purpose of building a community organization that could advocate for Medicare and act as a resource for individuals in the community. Members have been very active, having organized public forums, held movie nights, met with local seniors' organizations, coordinated campaigns, and made presentations to regional district and labour councils. The group hopes that the upcoming April 18th event will be well attended and provide useful tools for people who are looking to understand how to have their concerns heard within the health care system. They will also be focusing on promoting public health care as a provincial election issue. |
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| Kamloops Health Coalition raises senior's issues heading into May election | |
The Kamloops Health Coalition has launched a concerted community engagement campaign in the lead up to the May 12 provincial election. The campaign will culminate in a rally on May 10 at 1:30 p.m. at Riverside Park. For more info or to get involved contact Rick Turner @ 250-579-8541 or Fawn Knox @250-579-5768. Following up on a door-to-door canvas of Kamloops residents in late January and early February which identified upwards of 1500 public health care supporters, Kamloops Health Coalition members are hoping to increase the level of engagement in their work as they plan street-speaks, bridge campaigns, and other activities. The group aims to draw attention to health care issues such as the closure of public long term care facilities in the city, the death of Ms. Bombardier and the need for an Independent Seniors' Advocate, and more individual care time for seniors in long-term care residences. They urge citizens to consider where the provincial candidates stand when they head to the polls on May 12. |
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| Vancouver - Fairview MLA delivers private clinics petition to legislature | |
A petition of 1000 names collected recently by the BC Health Coalition (BCHC) during a door-to-door canvas in Vancouver-Fairview was submitted to the legislature on March 24, 2009 by sitting MLA for the area, Jenn McGinn. Citizens who signed the petition were asked if they would like to support the work of the BC Health Coalition's campaign to stop private for-profit surgical facilities such as the one in their riding owned and operated by Dr. Brian Day. Dr. Day and four other private for-profit surgical companies recently filed a lawsuit against B.C.'s Minister of Health Services, Medical Services Commission and Attorney General. The suit aims to dismantle medicare and encourage individuals to buy private health insurance for surgical services already provided through B.C.'s publicly funded system. The province has filed a counterclaim, which includes a request for a court order requiring some of the for-profit hospitals to allow inspectors to enter and review their records. Inspectors have repeatedly been denied access. Click here for more information about this case Click here to send an e-mail to Health Services Minister George Abbott demanding that he protect Medicare and put an end to the charging of user fees and extra-billing by for-profit clinics. |
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| British Columbia faces Charter challenge from private clinics | |
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A recent charter challenge filed by Canadian Independent Medical Clinic Association (CIMCA), a consortium of BC-based for-profit clinic operators led by Dr. Brian Day, aims to strike a mortal blow to universal health care as we know it. CIMCA claims to be acting on behalf of patients, arguing that British Columbians should be able to buy private insurance to pay for their services. But this legal action is less about the rights of patients and more about the interests of investors who will benefit from the clinics' revenues Ð generated by charging patients' user fees and extra-billing for services already covered by Medicare. The move is the latest step in the for-profit surgical clinic industry's aggressive campaign to capture a larger share of the health care "market" from non-profit public hospitals. The BC Health Coalition is calling on the provincial government to take a strong stand in defending provincial health legislation in the face of this legal challenge. It's not too late for you to act! The BCHC continues to urge citizens to take action: Click here to send an e-mail to Health Services Minister George Abbott demanding that he protect Medicare and put an end to the charging of user fees and extra-billing by for-profit clinics. Click here to send a message to the Federal Health Minister to investigate suspected B.C. violations of the Canadian Health Act. |
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| Out in the Community: BCHC participates in Grand March for Housing | |
The BCHC joined with thousands of individuals and organizations on April 4th to participate in the Citywide Housing Coalition's Grand March for Housing. The Vancouver march was organized to demand immediate government action to end homelessness, build social housing, protect rental housing and mobile home pads, and raise welfare and minimum wage rates.
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| Authorized by BCHC, registered under the Election Act. 604.681.7945 | |
| BC Health Coalition • 411 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, BC V6B 1X4 P: 604-681-7945 • F: 604-681-7947 • Email: info@bchealthcoalition.ca |
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