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| National Medicare Week inspires action in BC and beyond |
The week of November 15-20 saw Canadians across the country voicing their support for public health care as part of National Medicare Week 2010.
The timing of this year's National Medicare Week could not be more critical. Nationally, promoters of for-profit, privatized health care are on the offensive. Key figures in the federal government have made calls to dismantle national Medicare and end federal health transfers to the provinces.
And we are increasingly reading false claims in the media that public health care is unsustainable despite overwhelming evidence that it is private care that we cannot afford.
Here in BC the province has begun to charge hospital fees for services previously provided to patients free of charge as required by the Canada Health Act.
The Ottawa-based Canadian Health Coalition organized a national letter writing campaign that saw over 3500 e-mails sent to Prime Minister Stephen Harper urging him to show leadership on health care by enforcing the Canada Health Act.
Take Action! It's not too late to participate! The BC Health Coalition has put together a one-stop National Medicare Week Action Centre web page where you can send important messages to elected officials on issues of your choice from investing in Home and Community Care to defending Medicare from for-profit investors. This is a great opportunity to voice your support for Medicare and send a message about the kind of health care system you want!
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| Home and Community Care Weeks of Action |
 While public health care supporters celebrated national Medicare the BC Health Coalition's Home and Community Care campaign went into high gear with a series of fall Weeks of Action
Making our voices heard
During the Weeks of Action, BCHC members and Medicare supporters across the province met with their MLAs, wrote letters to the editor and made presentations at regional Health Authority open board meetings, presenting on pressing seniors' issues and demanding answers on issues such as daily fees for hospital care and bed shortages.
"In this year alone seniors and people with disabilities have been hit with 'convalescent care' fees and an increase in residential care rates. And they continue to face a shortage of publicly-funded, long-term care beds," says Alice Edge, BCHC co-chair. "British Columbians are fed up they want the province to prioritize home and community care services now."
Saying "No" to hospital user fees
The media attention generated by the BC Health Coalition and activists across BC about the government's charging of so-called "convalescent care" fees has sparked a strong public outcry.
Patients the majority of whom are seniors - who are hospitalized while recovering from illness or injury have begum to be billed for services previously provided to patients free of charge as required by the Canada Health Act.
Over 1,000 people have sent e-mail messages to health minister Kevin Falcon voicing opposition to the fees. The Federal health critic has since called on the Federal government to push BC to scrap the fees, saying they violate the Canada Health Act.
Take Action! BC's seniors and people with disabilities deserve high-quality and accessible public health care. Visit our website now and send a letter to the provincial government demanding that it make critical changes to improve the lives of BC seniors and people with disabilities.
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| Update on Private Clinic Legal Threat |
A recent BC Court of Appeal decision has made it clear that our provincial government has the authority to audit the for-profit Cambie Surgery Centre the business at the centre of a legal attack on Medicare and push by private investors to use the courts to open up BC to US-style health insurance.
In September the BC Court of Appeal ruled that the provincial Medical Services Commission has always had the authority under the law to apply for a warrant to audit Cambie Surgeries and did not require a court injunction to proceed. This ruling was made after Cambie had appealed the trial judge's granting the MSC an injunction to proceed with an audit.
The time for action is now. Yet, the provincial government continues to allow the clinics to flout laws designed to limit for-profit delivery of medically necessary services and to protect your access to care.
Take Action! Visit the BCHC website to send a message demanding that Minister Falcon take a strong stand in defending provincial health legislation from the legal challenge launched by private for-profit clinic operators in B.C. This will ensure that we have a health care system that works for all.
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