Business leaders begin to rally in support of public health care system

Steven Wharry

Canadian Medical Association Journal 1996; 154: 1557-1558

Steven Wharry is associate editor of CMA News.

In Brief

There appears to be growing concern among Canada's business leaders about the future of Canada's health care system. At a recent meeting in Montebello, Que., that was cosponsored by the CMA and several Canadian corporations, some business representatives said Canada's publicly funded system gives them a competitive edge in an increasingly global market.

En bref

Les chefs d'entreprise canadiens semblent de plus en plus préoccupés par l'avenir de notre système de santé. Des représentants du monde des affaires qui se réunissaient récemment à Montebello (Québec) dans le cadre d'une rencontre coparrainée par l'AMC et plusieurs sociétés canadiennes ont en effet affirmé que le système de santé du Canada, du fait qu'il est financé par l'État, leur assure un avantage concurrentiel dans un marché de plus en plus international.

After virtually ignoring Canada's national health insurance plan since its inception, the country's business leaders now appear to be rallying to defend it.

Some of those leaders joined physicians and representatives of various social organizations at the National Health Care Policy Summit at Montebello, Que., in March to voice concerns about how a remodelled health care system might affect them and their businesses. Some of the business representatives said Canada's health care system gives them a competitive edge in an increasingly global market. This is especially true when they are competing against US companies, because health care costs for employees are much greater there and add to the costs of products and services. Canadian companies are loathe to lose this advantage, and this means there is growing corporate concern as discussion continues on ways to reform the health care system. "Some of the budget cutting that is going on is like surgery without a recovery room," said Bill Wilkerson, president of Liberty Health. "There has to be some sort of strategic plan to manage the reforming of the health care system."

The summit, sponsored by the CMA, Liberty Health, MDS Health Group Limited and SHL Systemhouse, brought together leaders from different fields to debate the future of health care in Canada. Liberty Health specializes in supplementary health insurance, while MDS Health Group is Canada's largest technology-based health and life sciences company, with 1995 revenues of $689 million. SHL Systemhouse is a world leader in computer integration and networking.

"I was very heartened to see the private sector's interest in discussing health care," said Dr. Rob Kimball, a family physician from Windsor, NS, and past president of the Nova Scotia Medical Society. "Some pretty influential people took time out to come and discuss this topic."

Business representatives told the summit they support the five principles of the Canada Health Act. However, businesses like Liberty Health see a larger role for the private sector in the health care system of the future.

"We consider the five principles a basis for action," said Wilkerson. "We are looking at ways to collaborate with professional health care providers to improve the system and define a role for the private sector."

Although business leaders and physicians agreed on many points during the summit, some doctors said businesses are underestimating the problems currently facing health care.

"I'm afraid the pendulum has already swung too far," said Kimball, who sits on the CMA board. "Expectations for the health care system are so high we might not be able to spend enough to provide the services people have come to expect."

Kimball said more private-sector involvement in health care might help to address specific shortcomings, such as the need to develop information systems to track health care spending. "Until we can show concrete data that there is not enough money in the system it will be hard to convince people that we need more money," said Kimball.

Dr. Howard Gimbel, an ophthalmologist and founder of the Gimbel Eye Centres in Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon, also attended the summit. He said today's debate is less about public-versus-private funding for health care than about responding to patients' needs. "We are going though a time of massive restructuring and I think it is important to look at all options from a patient's perspective," said Gimbel.

He opened his first private clinic in 1980 because patients "had to go to the States or wait 2 years to get the services I was offering."

Still, he said a private system is not necessarily better than a public one. "We have a great system and I think we all have to be very proud of it, but we also have to recognize its limitations."

By correcting these limitations, he said, private facilities and services can do a lot of good. "We started this [chain of private clinics] in the early `80s to respond to patients' needs and come up with new ways to deliver the service," he said.

Gimbel, who applauded the CMA's recent efforts to open the debate about the future of health care in Canada, hopes there will be more opportunity for public input.

"The best solutions will come from many minds examining the situation," said Gimbel. "I think every Canadian needs to be involved in this debate and I was very pleased to see such a wide cross-section of people at this summit."

| CMAJ May 15, 1996 (vol 154, no 10) / JAMC le 15 mai 1996 (vol 154, no 10) |