The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #73769

Martha Livingston, PhD, Associate Professor of Health and Society, SUNY College at Old Westbury, Box 210, Old Westbury, New York, NY 11568, (516) 876-2748, martha.livingston@rcn.com

Learning Objectives:

• Canada's national health insurance program, well-loved by its people since its inception nationwide in 1971, has been under attack in several ways for the last 15 years. But precisely because the system is so popular, attacks must be veiled, ususally taking the form "we love our health care system, but we just can't afford it anymore." After years of such attacks and budget-cutting that have threatened the quality and integrity of the system for both providers and users, a counterattack has been launched, spurred by a surprisingly forceful national report in November of 2002 by former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow, head of a nationwide task force popularly called the Romanow Commission. The battle is engaged, the issues are clear: the system needs more money, as well as other changes. Whether progressive forces will be successful remains to be seen. The presentation will be introduced and framed by a description of Canada's health care as a fee-for-service, private-practice-based sickness care system, and a brief response to the endless "big lies" reported in the U.S. press. The influence and export of U.S. health care ideology, and incursions by U.S. corporations and their Canadian allies, will also be examined.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.