CAMPAIGN
One step closer to a “Safe Long-Term Care Act”
BCHC member organizations and individuals were part of the 18,000 Canadians who helped shape the new draft LTC standards, recently released by Health Standard Organization.
In a recent blog post, we shared our initial reaction to the draft standards. While there is a lot to applaud about these updated standards, we worry about the lack of funding and commitment to legislate new standards will limit implementation.
The new draft standards [also] fail to acknowledge the majority of Canadians who wish to see for-profit long-term care phased out. In BCHC members’ submissions to HSO, the theme of for-profit care resounded loud and clear. Neither the new report nor the draft standards make any mention of how ownership shapes the experiences of staff and residents. “Reconsidering the provision of For-Profit LTC Care” was identified as a key issue in HSO’s What We Heard Report #1. What happened since then?
The draft standards are open for public feedback until March 27th, 2022.
TAKE ACTION
Support the AccessBC campaign to include free prescription contraception in the 2022 budget. Click here to send your MLA a letter asking them to support this initiative.
WATCH & LEARN
- BC Health Coalition participated in an international panel on universal health care, hosted by the NC Medicare For All Coalition in January. Watch BCHC Campaigner Ayendri Riddell and Anti-Privatization Working Group Co-chair Colleen Fuller’s presentation about the history and present of Medicare in Canada. WATCH HERE.
- “Caring in a pandemic: Living and working through COVID” is a new video sharing the experiences of over 2,200 CUPE community health workers across B.C. WATCH HERE.
OPINION
Lower drug prices are a priority for Canadians, but not for the federal governmnent | The Conversation With yet another delay to the changes to the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board announced in December 2021, Joel Lexchin tracks Big Pharma’s lobby in opposition to the changes, considered part of the groundwork for a national pharmacare plan.
PUBLIC HEALTH NEWS & RESOURCES
- Canada’s Conservative Establishment is Gearing Up for Another Fight Over Privatizing Public Health Care| Press Progress
Demands to privatize healthcare have made a recent comeback in media, with top right-wing voices taking advantage of a strained health care system suffering after decades of cuts, underfunding, and two years of COVID-19. Danyaal Raza presents a defence of public health care HERE.
- Virtual Health Care Privatization| NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees released a report warning against privatization through virtual health care. With evidence of dramatic overbilling in virtual health care, NUPGE calls for public control that prevents universal health care funds from being drained into private corporations.
- Fee-for-service model is deterring aspiring family doctors from setting up practice: report| CBC News
A report published in the Canadian Family Physician Journal found that B.C.’s fee-for-service model is a barrier for up-and-coming family doctors, who are choosing more hospital-based work and specialized practice.
- Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being in Community Residential Care Settings| Canadian Standards Association
Dr. Penny MacCourt, on behalf of the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health, argues for a mental health promotion framework to support the mental health and well-being of people living in community residential care settings.
DONATE
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