File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Two & Out

PETERS: A great week for public health, with one reminder that things can get even better

Sep 11, 2020 | 10:39 AM

IT’S BEEN A GREAT WEEK for the public health system in Canada. No, really.

On Thursday, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled against a Vancouver clinic trying to offer wealthy patients a fast track to health care.

Justice John Steeves found Dr. Brian Day’s clinic offering patients a chance to pay to skip the lines would, in fact, result in damage to the universal healthcare system.

Defenders of the Canadian system said Day’s philosophy flew in the face of the values the Canadian system was founded upon.

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On the same day, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix was asked why Canada has done so well compared to the United States in suppressing the spread of COVID-19.

Dix responded that Canada’s public healthcare system plays a big part in that.

He said in the United States, where millions and millions of people do not have health insurance, there are financial disincentives for people to look after their own health.

If you are worried about how you’re going to pay for visits and treatments, you’re less likely to be on top of your own health and the health needs of your family.

We may pay more taxes and have less choice over our own care in Canada, but when a pandemic hits, we sure aren’t worried about how to pay for a respirator.

It’s a very strong argument for the public system.

Finally this week, B.C’s government announced it is piloting a Hospital at Home program that would offer services typically only available in a hospital setting to people in their homes.

If it’s done right, this could have a major impact on the prevention of virus spread far into the future, even when COVID-19 is a distant memory.

So a terrific week for public health.

But not everything is tickety boo.

The City of Kamloops announced it is broadening the mandate of its Bylaw Services Department to better equip and allow officers to tackle various social issues on the city’s streets.

In other words, dealing with people who have complex and sometimes undiagnosed mental health issues, self-medicating their way into substance use disorders and even more complex medical issues.

That means more law enforcement officers dealing with more patients who need social and medical interventions.

It’s not that it’s an unwarranted move from the City of Kamloops, but it exposes a shortcoming in our health system.

The health file takes up a massive portion of the provincial budget but, believe it or not, it may need to take up even more in order to keep moving our society forward.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.