Notes

Remember the news stories from the sixties and seventies about Japanese soldiers emerging from island caves in full battle regalia, unaware that WW2 ended in 1945?  For them, time had stopped.  They were still at war and girded for combat.  It appears they had some company:  the authors of the recently released Canadian Medical Association report, Health Care Transformation in Canada. 

What a strange, atavistic confection, and what a missed opportunity.  I had high hopes for the report – an updated perspective, some serious self-reflection.  Surely it wouldn’t recycle hoary old solutions and beguile us with policy legerdemain. 

Surely it did.  It is a remarkable document on many levels, both for what’s in it and what isn’t.  Solutions based on unstated premises.  More doctors, more services, more of everything – except restraint.  Don’t take my word for it - read it for yourself.  Here’s a sampler of the report’s proposals: . .

To read the complete essay please click here

Publishers Note | 1

Canada's Physicians lead the way in charting a new course for health care [from the CMA]

OTTAWA, Aug. 3 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has unveiled today an important new policy document aimed at driving change in Canada's health care system to better meet the needs of patients now and in the future. It also aims at framing future discussions between the Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments in preparation for the renewal of the Health Accord in 2014.

"Canada's physicians know that the time to act is past due if we are going to devise a plan to build a sustainable health care system that actually meets the needs of patients, instead of one that simply makes the promise but falls short in many areas," said Dr. Anne Doig, President of the CMA. "Our system needs to be massively transformed and the CMA is engaging Canadians to discuss and debate the hard choices we will need to make as a nation to move our system forward."

The CMA policy document, entitled "Health Care Transformation in Canada: Change that Works. Care that Lasts." focuses on taking the dialogue around health care in Canada beyond the narrowly interpreted parameters set out by the Canada Health Act.     More

Publishers Note | 2

Dr. Jeffrey Turnbull: Inaugural Address | CMA meetings August 25, 2010 | Niagara Falls

Madame Speaker, Madame President, colleagues, friends. Thank you very much for that warm welcome.

I am humbled that you have put your faith in me. And I am deeply and truly honoured to represent you, the doctors of Canada. To my Ontario colleagues in particular, I say thank you for your confidence and your support of my aspirations.

The Canadian Medical Association is as old as our country itself. We have a storied history - a history of progress and accomplishment, of speaking out and speaking up on behalf of our patients and all Canadians. I pledge to honour and advance that legacy.     More.