[IWE] canadian healthcare to crack down on choice of doctor
William Oxley
iwe@warhead.org.uk
Mon, 6 Oct 2008 19:16:09 -0400
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/
ALeqM5iU70Zb1J3dfkdUUgjm0jav2aZP9A
"The federal government has essentially abdicated its responsibility
to enforce the Canada Health Act and protect patients against extra
billing and two-tier health care," said Mehra. "And no provincial
government has set up adequate regulatory and enforcement regimes to
fulfil their requirements to protect patients in their provinces."
There were numerous instances of for-profit clinics charging public
plans as well as patients, as well as openly selling medically
necessary services to people who will pay to "jump the queue," Mehra
said.
Of the 89 alleged violations documented in the report, entitled
"Eroding Public Medicare," 29 are in British Columbia, 41 in Quebec,
11 in Ontario, seven in Alberta and one in Nova Scotia.
She said for-profit clinics made their appearance about a decade ago
following deep slashes to health care in the 1990s. In the last five
years, the increase has been "startling," said Mehra.
But a "decline" into an American-style system isn't inevitable, the
report states, citing examples where governments have clamped down on
for-profit clinics.