Hospitals have been streamlined leaving more core health services to be delivered in the community and in the home. Many of these services fall outside the scope of the Canada Health Act meaning that they are not publicly insured services. In the absence of a national home and community care policy, these health services are increasingly being provided on a for-profit basis. The core principle of equal access to health care based on need, not on ability to pay, is threatened by this situation and should be addressed by the First Ministers. Pharmaceutical policy is an area badly in need of a national direction.
Prescription drugs remain a key driver of health care costs.
As drug patent policy continues to limit the entry of cheaper generic drugs onto the market, the cost of drugs will continue to soar. We badly need a national pharmacare program to contain costs and to ensure people have access to the drugs they need. Many countries, particularly the United States, are determined that health care be deemed a commercial activity and subject to the rules of free trade. The GATS negotiations are a huge threat to keeping health care publicly provided. Real leadership from the First Ministers would result in an agreement that Medicare is not for sale and that Canada will insist on health services being exempt from the GATS negotiations.