A woman from Ladysmith, Susan McAdam, sees telehealth as a viable solution to get necessary treatment for her 85-yearold mother, and I do not doubt that it may well be a success.
My concern is that the Vancouver Island Health Authority will not only be happy to provide the service as a way of cutting costs - possibly putting yet another barrier in front of obtaining publicly funded health care - but using the precedent in this case of only providing it if users can pay for it themselves.
McAdam, it would seem, has been told that if she can gather up $35,000 then telehealth for Ladysmith may become a reality. Anyone who needs more evidence that this province and the Vancouver Island Health Authority are failing to respect the Canada Health Act need look no further.
I intend no criticism of McAdam. She's doing the right thing by her mother. But I want to consider the wider issues.
In my opinion, this is nothing short of extortion by VIHA when we still live in a nation that provides a publicly-funded health care system. I'm not saying that anyone can phone up and just demand telehealth and VIHA must snap to. What I am saying is that VIHA, with the province's blessing, in demanding $35,000 to install this service is itself creating a two-tier health system.
What about a communities like Youbou, Tahsis and Gold River, who took a serious financial hit after the Campbell Liberals failed in a last chance to do prevent a catastrophe in the coastal lumber industry? Maybe those towns can come up with the $35,000 VIHA would want to extort from them, but the question has to be asked because guaranteed there are Island communities that cannot afford this.
The other concern that arises is that once the system is in place VIHA will use it as an excuse to cut other services. While I really hope that McAdam gets the help her mother needs, her efforts may be opening the door to greater problems that VIHA will only be too happy to exploit.
Let's use Gabriola Island as an example. VIHA could easily arrange its pay structure to eliminate paying a doctor there, not that I think they will at this time. But if Gabriolans raise their $35,000 to buy telehealth that ought to be provided under the Canada Health Act, VIHA would be mightily tempted to eliminate paying a doctor there.
I can see it now. Someone on Gabriola has a heart attack, paramedics attend and rush them not to a doctor at their new urgent care health centre, but the telehealth linkup to a doctor in Nanaimo or Victoria. Some comfort for that patient.
There is a misguided chorus now calling for more privatization of health care as a way of improving our health care system. Privatization can only make things worse, as the privatization of cleaning staff has amply demonstrated.
The first step in solving the problems in health care in B.C. is twofold: First eliminate the health authorities and return to regional boards; second the province must renew its commitment to the Canada Health Act and move away from privatization that creates a two-tier health system. Getting rid of the health authorities will trim millions of dollars from the health budget and local health boards will better be able to control costs.
Health care may not be cheap, but we can either have the current system that is failing or renew our commitment to publicly funded health care.
It's time for a government that not only funds health care properly but ends the gravy train that VIHA and other health authorities seem to be for health bureaucrats.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Paul Walton
Quelle/Source: Canada, 04.10.2011
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