JointHealth™ express September 18, 2019
Federal election 2019: Make arthritis an election issue.
The federal election in Canada is scheduled for October 21, 2019. What changes would you like to see in arthritis models of care?
The delivery of healthcare may be a provincial responsibility, but the federal government also plays a significant role in funding healthcare and shaping healthcare policies.
Arthritis affects more than 6 million Canadians.
Many Canadians living with the disease are told that it is “just arthritis.” Indeed, joint pain is often seen as simply a normal part of aging. The significance of arthritis, and the possibility and importance of doing something about it, are discounted. The health care system and providers often fail to recognize and treat arthritis effectively. Health strategies, public policy and workplace policies treat arthritis lightly or say nothing at all.
In fact, Canadians of all ages, sexes and races can and do have arthritis, and it is the leading cause of disability in Canada. While the risk of arthritis increases as you age – half of people 65 and older have arthritis – the truth is people of all ages get arthritis including children and young adults. Approximately 60% of Canadians with arthritis are under age 65. And, to many people’s surprise, one in 1,000 children in Canada has arthritis.
As the number of Canadians living with osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis increases dramatically over the next 30 years, it has become more important than ever for the federal government to find solutions to prevent and treat these diseases.
Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) members and subscribers are keenly following the federal election campaign and to help them compare the newly emerging healthcare platforms, we asked the Conservative Party of Canada, the Green Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, and the New Democratic Party of Canada the same five questions about top health care issues for Canadians living with arthritis.
Together, arthritis consumers have a powerful voice. Only if we exercise it. Please consider the parties' healthcare platforms and what their positions mean for people living with arthritis. On October 21, 2019. VOTE for arthritis. #Vote4Arthritis
ACE will be collecting Party responses. Responses will be posted on the Federal Election 2019 page as we receive them.
The questionnaire asked the following questions:
Federal election 2019: Make arthritis an election issue.
The federal election in Canada is scheduled for October 21, 2019. What changes would you like to see in arthritis models of care?
The delivery of healthcare may be a provincial responsibility, but the federal government also plays a significant role in funding healthcare and shaping healthcare policies.
Arthritis affects more than 6 million Canadians.
Many Canadians living with the disease are told that it is “just arthritis.” Indeed, joint pain is often seen as simply a normal part of aging. The significance of arthritis, and the possibility and importance of doing something about it, are discounted. The health care system and providers often fail to recognize and treat arthritis effectively. Health strategies, public policy and workplace policies treat arthritis lightly or say nothing at all.
In fact, Canadians of all ages, sexes and races can and do have arthritis, and it is the leading cause of disability in Canada. While the risk of arthritis increases as you age – half of people 65 and older have arthritis – the truth is people of all ages get arthritis including children and young adults. Approximately 60% of Canadians with arthritis are under age 65. And, to many people’s surprise, one in 1,000 children in Canada has arthritis.
As the number of Canadians living with osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis increases dramatically over the next 30 years, it has become more important than ever for the federal government to find solutions to prevent and treat these diseases.
Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) members and subscribers are keenly following the federal election campaign and to help them compare the newly emerging healthcare platforms, we asked the Conservative Party of Canada, the Green Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, and the New Democratic Party of Canada the same five questions about top health care issues for Canadians living with arthritis.
Together, arthritis consumers have a powerful voice. Only if we exercise it. Please consider the parties' healthcare platforms and what their positions mean for people living with arthritis. On October 21, 2019. VOTE for arthritis. #Vote4Arthritis
ACE will be collecting Party responses. Responses will be posted on the Federal Election 2019 page as we receive them.
The questionnaire asked the following questions:
- Will your government increase funding to the Canadian Health Transfer to address higher healthcare costs associated with an elderly population?
- Does your party think standardized model of care is necessary? If so, what should the key component of this model be?
- Will your party support legislation in support of flexible work arrangements for workers living with arthritis and other chronic diseases?
- What pharmacare reforms will your party implement to address inequities and the most critical disparities in coverage for prescription medicines?
- What will your government do to improve the healthcare of indigenous peoples in Canada living with arthritis?
- The Conservative Party of Canada
- The Green Party of Canada
- The Liberal Party of Canada
- The New Democratic Party
Arthritis Consumer Experts
ACE thanks Arthritis Research Canada (ARC) for its scientific review of ACE and JointHealth™ information and education programs.