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U.S.-based Physicians for a National Health Program.
Promoting Public Solutions
The National Union continues to promote its 10 step plan to defend,
expand and improve on the quality health care that Canadians enjoy. While
initially promoted as a way to address long wait-times, we have found that
these issues remain a pressing concern for Canadians. We are gratified that
other organizations are starting to adopt and promote many of the initiatives
we have advocated. The 10 Steps to Better and Faster Care are:
• STEP 1 – More Health Professionals
• STEP 2 – A National Home Care Program
• STEP 3 – A National Pharmacare Program
• STEP 4 – Better Nursing Home Care for the Elderly
• STEP 5 – More Public Investment in Dental Care and Oral
Health Promotion
• STEP 6 – A National Mental Health Strategy
• STEP 7 – Accurate Information and Evidence to Make Better Decisions
• STEP 8 – Primary Care Reform and Expansion
• STEP 9 – More Focus on Prevention, Promotion and Public
Health Initiatives
• STEP 10 – Better Chronic Disease Management
Our campaign materials continue to be requested and widely distributed. With
the expected demise of the 2004 Health Accord, we are developing material
based on the 10 steps which argues that we can afford them if the federal
government chose to play a more positive role in health care.
Fighting Private Health Care
Unfortunately, the privatization threat appears to be, once again, rising.
The National Union and our Components have, along with coalition partners,
been on the front lines of efforts to oppose health care privatization initiatives
across Canada.
As a member of the Canadian Health Coalition, we have participated
in national campaigns against health care privatization. This includes strong
participation on the anti-privatization working group of the Canadian
Health Coalition. Furthermore, the National Union and our members
have been prominent participants in the annual Medicare Week lobby of
Members of Parliament.
Despite ample evidence of the policy failure of Public-Private Partnerships
(P3s), they continue to be advanced by governments across Canada. We have
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