The majority of Canadians want to see changes made to the country’s healthcare system, according to a poll by Leger for SecondStreet.org. .“Canadians appear to be very keen for governments to move forward with health reform,” said SecondStreet.org president Colin Craig in a press release. .“Overall, reform has been slow, but we’re seeing some positive changes in Canada, such as governments hiring private clinics to reduce surgical waiting lists.”.The poll said 72% of Canadians support copying a European Union policy called the Cross Border Directive. This policy would give patients the right to visit public or private health facilities outside their province, pay for surgery, and be reimbursed by their provincial government. .The poll went on to say 64% of people support governments hiring private clinics to reduce surgical backlogs. Despite concerns raised by government employee unions, it said 20% oppose this option..More than half of respondents support allowing people to use their own money to pay for surgery at private clinics. Two-thirds said they believe health ministers should have to hold a press conference each year to announce the number of patients who died from long wait lists. .Craig said Canadians love the idea of copying the EU’s policy to allow patients to be reimbursed for surgeries abroad. .“It’s not a perfect solution, but it could provide immediate relief for patients who are suffering and reduce waiting lists,” he said. .Alberta Premier Danielle Smith released her plan to make changes to Alberta Health Services (AHS) to ensure patients do not have to be “treated on hospital floors” as staff and ICU shortages continue..READ MORE: Smith releases overview of proposed AHS reform.“AHS executive management failed Albertans during the COVID response,” said Smith. .She said she would hire a new, competent, and capable AHS CEO. The AHS board would be replaced with an interim health commissioner for at least the next year, who will report to the premier and the health minister. .The poll was conducted online between Oct. 2 to 7 with 1,534 Canadians. It has a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
The majority of Canadians want to see changes made to the country’s healthcare system, according to a poll by Leger for SecondStreet.org. .“Canadians appear to be very keen for governments to move forward with health reform,” said SecondStreet.org president Colin Craig in a press release. .“Overall, reform has been slow, but we’re seeing some positive changes in Canada, such as governments hiring private clinics to reduce surgical waiting lists.”.The poll said 72% of Canadians support copying a European Union policy called the Cross Border Directive. This policy would give patients the right to visit public or private health facilities outside their province, pay for surgery, and be reimbursed by their provincial government. .The poll went on to say 64% of people support governments hiring private clinics to reduce surgical backlogs. Despite concerns raised by government employee unions, it said 20% oppose this option..More than half of respondents support allowing people to use their own money to pay for surgery at private clinics. Two-thirds said they believe health ministers should have to hold a press conference each year to announce the number of patients who died from long wait lists. .Craig said Canadians love the idea of copying the EU’s policy to allow patients to be reimbursed for surgeries abroad. .“It’s not a perfect solution, but it could provide immediate relief for patients who are suffering and reduce waiting lists,” he said. .Alberta Premier Danielle Smith released her plan to make changes to Alberta Health Services (AHS) to ensure patients do not have to be “treated on hospital floors” as staff and ICU shortages continue..READ MORE: Smith releases overview of proposed AHS reform.“AHS executive management failed Albertans during the COVID response,” said Smith. .She said she would hire a new, competent, and capable AHS CEO. The AHS board would be replaced with an interim health commissioner for at least the next year, who will report to the premier and the health minister. .The poll was conducted online between Oct. 2 to 7 with 1,534 Canadians. It has a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
