Inklings of Universal Health Care

Posted by Susanna McLeod Jul 20, 2008

A mere 43 years ago, Canada’s Prime Minister Pearson made the announcement that the federal government would contribute to provincial health care plans, as long as private groups or businesses were not involved. It was the beginning of today’s health care structure, almost the best in the world.

I can’t imagine living in a country where health care is not accessible to all. It would be awful to have to demonstrate private insurance coverage, prove financial worth or be forced to sign IOUs for huge amounts of money, even before much-needed emergency care can be assessed. The Canadian scheme has perhaps spoiled us, since most of the world does not have such a wonderfully organized system. None of us want to see anyone without care, no matter their economic status.

The federal-provincial Health Care Act was passed a year and a half later on December 8, 1966. Continued debate, restructuring and even battles keep the Medicare organization under control and able to provide the best care utilizing the available funds.

It’s a health care system we don’t want to, perhaps can’t, do without. I wonder how our ancestors fared on their own before Canadian Medicare was available.