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By Derek Craddock

HEALTH CARE REFORMS

New survey shows Saskatchewan residents support healthcare reform

Oct 25, 2022 | 8:00 AM

As healthcare systems continue to deal with shortages and pressures, a new poll suggests Canadians are open to changes.

Earlier this month, just over 1,500 Canadians took part in a survey from Second Street and Leger regarding healthcare reform and looking at what options are viable.

About 72 per cent of survey takers said they supported a European Union policy which would give patients the right to visit public or private health facilities outside the province, pay for surgery and then be reimbursed by their provincial government.

Roughly 64 per cent indicated they support governments hiring private clinics to reduce surgical backlogs. Despite concerns raised by various healthcare unions, only 20 per cent of poll goers opposed this option.

Another finding of the survey was that 66 per cent of those who responded believe health ministers should announce the number of patients who had died over the past year due to long waiting lists.

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President of Second Street Colin Craig said he was surprised at some of the results, in particular the number who favoured the EU policy.

(Second Street/Leger)

“That could be an interesting option to see here in Canada,” he said. “It has happened in Canada but it’s certainly not implemented the way that it has in Europe where it’s a right that patients have and it’s a standardized process.”

At the height of the Omicron wave of COVID-19, the Saskatchewan government flew ill patients to Ontario to reduce the strain on Saskatchewan healthcare workers. Craig said there have been similar examples of patients travelling between provinces or even countries to have surgeries performed.

Not everyone is on board with changes like this, that includes unions like CUPE in Saskatchewan. Back in July, CUPE issued a statement condemning the government’s plan to reduce the surgical backlog, particularly as it related to shipping people out of province for surgeries.

“The move towards further privatization will only worsen our recruitment and retention challenges. There is a limited pool of healthcare staff, and the privatization of more healthcare services will pull medical staff away from the public system,” said CUPE 5430 President Bashir Jalloh. “Across our health care system, staffing levels should be increased to reduce wait times and improve quality of care.”

When it came to the numbers for Saskatchewan and Manitoba, on that particular question, they were through the roof with 85 per cent of respondents in those provinces wanting to see this policy.

About 76 per cent in those prairie provinces also want to see a standard of announcing the deaths of patients from long wait lists.

“Saskatchewan respondents seem keen for heightened accountability there,” he said, “All in all, I think Saskatchewan residents seem keen to move forward with health care reform.”

With many people voicing their support for these reforms, what comes next? Craig said they’ll be presenting their findings to the federal and provincial governments. He said that Saskatchewan’s plan to hire private clinics to perform surgeries to help clear its backlog is an example that other provinces can follow.

“Overall, reform has been slow, but we’re seeing some positive changes in Canada, such as governments hiring private clinics to reduce surgical waiting lists. Canadians overwhelmingly support that approach,” said Craig.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock