Latest Kirby Senate Committee Health Care Report Gets a B Minus

Author: Walter Robinson 2002/04/17

CTF applauds committee conclusion that health care is "not fiscally sustainable"

CTF agrees that government monopoly health care is riddled with inherent conflicts of interest

CTF urges Kirby committee to cost out recommendations and focus more on demand side solutions and modernization of the Canada Health Act
OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has reacted to the latest report released by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (aka: the Kirby committee) entitled Volume 5: Principles and Recommendations for Reform - Part 1. The report is part of the Kirby committee's three-year review of health care.

Not Fiscally Sustainable

"Taxpayers should be pleased that the Kirby committee has joined the overwhelming chorus of public and expert opinion that out health system - as currently structured and funded - is not fiscally sustainable," stated CTF federal director Walter Robinson. "This was a key conclusion of the CTF's acclaimed research and position paper on health care entitled The Patient, The Condition, The Treatment released last September."

Monopoly Health Care Riddled with Conflicts

"We agree with the committee's findings that when government plays the role of system funder/insurer, provider and evaluator, it finds itself in a blatant and unaccountable conflict of interest situation," added Robinson. "A clear separation of these roles combined with patient sovereignty must be an essential element of health care reform."

Principles for Reform Too Limited

"While some of the principles for reform outlined are worthy of further consideration, the report focuses too much on supply-side, bureaucratic solutions. Placing greater emphasis on patient pre-funding through health care savings accounts and modernization of the Canada Health Act with new principles of universality, public governance, quality, accountability, sustainability and choice must be part of any health care reform effort," concluded Robinson.

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Franco Terrazzano
Federal Director at
Canadian Taxpayers
Federation

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