Abdulla: Let’s create a ‘Health Care Bill of Rights’ for Canadians

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It is time patients and physicians clearly stated what is important and asked policymakers to listen before acting.

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When he was premier of Saskatchewan, Tommy Douglas created Canada’s first provincial bill of “human rights.” One critical aspect, the right to life, was predicated on access to health care for all citizens. In 1962, Douglas and his successor, Woodrow Lloyd, established province-wide universal health care in Saskatchewan.

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Eventually, in 1966, prime minister Lester Pearson created a national medicare program. It was created with the cooperation of the NDP, the Progressive Conservatives and the Liberals in 1966. Yes, the three parties actually cooperated. Incredible.

Now we need a new bill of rights: a “Health-care Bill of Rights” for patients and physicians based on the principle of quintuple aim.

Quintuple Aim is a health-care concept based on improved patient experience with better outcomes and lower cost (for our limited resources) that also values clinician well-being and social health equity. It is time patients and physicians clearly stated what is important and asked policymakers to listen first. So here is my attempt to start this conversation. I truly expect others to make this idea better:

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1). All patients will be given access to preventative, appropriate, timely and urgent health care to improve the overall health care needs of the entire population. The focus is primary care.

2). All patients will have access to a core basket of services (primary care, pharmacare, dental care, mental health care and eye care) equitably in whatever format meets patients’ needs, with a dedicated family physician and a team of providers digitally interconnected. This basket will be the same for all patients regardless of race, religion, gender, geography or provincial jurisdiction. New services must be equitable throughout Canada and cannot supplant core services.

3). All patients will have access to information and education on health care issues (literacy) from kindergarten to Grade 12 to better look after themselves and their families.

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4). All patients and physicians will be treated with respect and dignity to ensure the best outcomes using sustainable resources. This will optimize patient experience and safety and ensure clinician well-being.

5). It is acknowledged that basic human rights such as food, clean water, adequate housing, education, access to social services, reduction of poverty, childcare supports, mental health services and harm reduction using a social equity lens must be the focus of future investments.

6). It is acknowledged that increasing expectations that health care can be all things to all people without public financial accountability, without choosing wisely, without supporting clinicians’ needs, without social equity, without environmental stewardship is not the way forward in Canada.

Dr. Alykhan Abdulla is a comprehensive family doctor in Manotick, board director  of the College of Family Physicians of Canada; and director for Longitudinal Leadership Curriculum at the University of Ottawa Undergraduate Medical Education. Twitter: @AlykhanAbdulla

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