Dear Editor:
Seven years ago, I found out that I had breast cancer. I had surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and many, many doctors’ appointments. I was scared, sure, my mom had died from it. But, I was never afraid that I would become homeless, or that my son would go hungry. I didn’t have medical bills to worry about.
That’s because we have a public healthcare system for doctor and hospital care. It’s paid for through taxes, and it ensures that we all get medically necessary doctor and hospital care based on need, not on our individual ability to pay. We have laws that protect our public health care system from those who want to make a profit off of our illness and injury.
We don’t have to buy medical insurance for basic medically necessary care like they do in the U.S. Insurance that only covers some of the costs of care. Many people in the U.S. go bankrupt from medical costs, the majority of these have medical insurance. Others just die when they can’t afford to seek medical care.
We don’t want that kind of health care system in Canada. Where those with lots of money buy faster access to health care, and the majority get poorer quality care, wait longer, and die more often.
But for-profit surgical clinic owner Brian Day is trying to use our courts to strike down the laws that prevent a U.S.-style system in Canada. This court case poses a huge threat. And it begins in B.C. Supreme Court on Sept. 8.
If Dr. Day wins, the public system that people in Canada rely on, and overwhelmingly support, will be further dismantled across the country.Private hospitals and medical insurance would be allowed, and the public system would be scaled down.
Dr. Day claims the defining principle at the heart of medicare in Canada – that health services be provided according to a patient’s need, not their ability to pay – is unconstitutional.
I believe he is saying that a rich person’s right to buy faster care and a doctor’s right to make a profit are more important than an average or poor person’s right to have quality healthcare.
Evidence shows that the kind of system Dr. Day wants would lead to longer wait times for care and poorer health for most of us. On top of that, there is NO evidence that private, for-profit care results in better care – not anywhere in the world.
Are there problems that need to be addressed in our public health care system? Absolutely, and there are many public innovations and efficiencies that can be implemented across the system to decrease wait times where needed and further improve quality of care. Let’s focus on strengthening our treasured system, rather than replacing it with a U.S.-style system that would ultimately lead to poorer, more expensive care for all of us.
Rachel Tutte, New Westminster
