An orange chopper flashed across the blue ribbon of sky between rows of white pines. I imagined the patient inside, terrified gratitude for the flight paramedics. At the same time, the ORNGE air ambulance fiasco echoed in my mind: millions wasted, allegations of criminal negligence, and high-rolling leadership excess (Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, National Post).
Most of us look at health care as patients, potential patients, or friends and family of patients. Even those of us inside the system, think and speak from a mixture of patient-based anxiety and provider-based self-interest.
One Well to Drink From
Canadians line up for care like drought starved orphans line up for soiled water from a single source, grateful for a drink. Well owners muddy discussions about dirty water. They warn that new wells will bankrupt the current well leaving no water for anyone and certain death for orphans. They march and demonstrate demanding more money for the One Well enlisting orphan survivors in their crusade.
Canadians will not support Medicare change without guarantees that improvement will not compromise the current state. This axiom strengthens as Medicare weakens. As Medicare runs out of money, Canadians grow more militant in their defence of the dying legislation. Like shipwrecked survivors, we place inordinate value on bits of flotsam when no meaningful option exists.
Medicare Change
Essential services upgrades require:
- a back-up plan and/or support during upgrade
- smallest steps possible
- lots of warning for those impacted
- a fallback position if things do not work out
Medicare zealots must stop unconscionable fear mongering about change and unbiased devotion to outdated legislation. We should discuss micro-changes to experiment alongside our Medicare mothership. We should partner with everyone – patients, providers, government, and industry – to explore options that might improve things for Canadians.
It should start with re-examining the 5 principles of Medicare: universality, accessibility, portability, comprehensiveness, and public administration. If we still believe in them, why aren’t they upheld? If we do not believe in them, why don’t we change?
We Control Change or Change Controls Us
We can try to orchestrate Medicare change now, or allow stealth privatization and spiralling costs to change things for us. How would you suggest we keep up with necessary change in Medicare? Will we remain paralyzed by fear?
(photo credit: thestar.com)