Canada’s health system crises

Vancouver, The Gulf Observer: Canada’s health system is in crises. Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial health ministers claim they agree the country’s health system is facing a crisis, yet even that failed to light enough of a fire under them to reach a deal to make things better.

Talks between them collapsed in Vancouver this week. The meeting was actually in progress when Canada’s premiers issued a news release declaring that “no progress” had been made. That prompted federal health minister Jean-Yves Duclos to abandon the talks.

Canadians waiting long hours in hospital emergency rooms or the weary health professionals working long hours to care for patients would be forgiven if they didn’t notice the meeting was happening.If they had, they could only be profoundly disappointed by the failure of their political leaders to find common ground on improving Canada’s health-care system at a time when it’s under such strain.

The Vancouver meeting was supposed to result in a national plan to address the staffing crisis in health care — one of the biggest factors driving the strain in the system right now.

Federal and provincial officials had worked together for months on a health human resources action plan. It was up for approval at the Vancouver meeting, according to copies of the agenda circulating on site, but the meeting ended without ministers endorsing the plan.

The group representing Canada’s doctors expressed disappointment at the failure to find solutions to the “critical issues plaguing our health systems.” Canada’s nurses used stronger language, saying they’re appalled at the lack of progress.

The overarching issue at play between the Trudeau government and the provinces is, of course, money.

The provinces believe the feds ought to cover a larger portion of their health-care costs. This year, Ottawa is providing about $45 billion through the Canada Health Transfer. The provinces want that boosted by about $28 billion a year.