When it comes to health care, CUPE does not just have demands; it has proposals. It does not simply identify problems; it offers solutions.
Many of these solutions are presented in a submission to the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.
CUPE is calling on the federal government to negotiate with the provinces and territories a new ten-year Health Accord with stable and adequate funding, including at minimum the six per cent escalator.
To defend and improve Medicare, the federal government must also:
- Enforce the Canada Health Act, including the ban on user fees and extra billing, and correct gaps in monitoring and reporting under the Act.
- Create a health care infrastructure fund that stipulates public non-profit financing, ownership, management, and operation.
- Promote public sector solutions to shorten wait times.
- Implement a federal/provincial/territorial strategy to reduce healthcare associated infections with dedicated funding for microbiological cleaning standards, more in-house cleaning staff, lower hospital occupancy, and mandatory public reporting.
- Create a pan-Canadian continuing care (residential and home and community care) program, with dedicated transfers financed from general revenue and Canada Health Act standards plus minimum staffing and non-profit delivery.
- Promote primary care reform, with funding and regulation, based on the community health centre model.
- Invest in Aboriginal health and meet the goals of the Kelowna Accord, improve water quality on reserves, and cover shortfalls in the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program.
- Implement the National Pharmaceutical Strategy agreed to in the 2004 Health Accord and establish a national pharmacare program.
- Exempt health care from CETA, the trade agreement Canada is negotiating with the European Union, and block extended patent protection for brand name drugs.
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Support employment equity and ethical recruitment, and include the full spectrum of health care workers in a pan-Canadian health human resources strategy.
