As the COVID-19 pandemic poses new challenges, we must seize this opportunity to rebuild the health system for the post-pandemic.
Indeed, the cracks that have appeared in Canada’s health care system are increasingly gaping and, without an action plan, patient care will continue to deteriorate. That is why the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) urges provincial and territorial authorities and the federal government to develop a new vision for the health care system, prioritizing human resource planning.
A few days ago, the CMA published a report prepared by the firm Deloitte entitled A struggling system: understanding the impact of the pandemic on healthcare. This document reveals certain consequences of the crisis which are devastating for health. Here are a few :
- between August and December 2020, delays in health care or inability to obtain services could have contributed to more than 4,000 excess deaths unrelated to COVID-19 infections;
- opioid-related deaths increased to nearly 20 per day in the first three months of 2021;
- routine cancer screening in Ontario has been halted in successive waves and, as of January 2021, their number was still 20-35% lower than before the pandemic;
- two-thirds of the canadian population living with chronic disease had difficulty obtaining care in 2020.
These alarming repercussions – and there are others – are not attributable only to the pandemic. The root cause is the lack of access to healthcare professionals, who have had to treat patients with COVID-19 while responding to other urgent care requests. Despite all of these efforts, the system has abandoned too many patients and our duty to them is to make a difference.
We are witnessing the effects of a dysfunctional system that has come under even more pressure as a result of the pandemic. Healthcare workers continue to carry the burden, but they are overwhelmed, demoralized and exhausted.
As we simultaneously fight the emerging threats posed by the virus, we have a collective responsibility to chart a new course. That is why the CMA is calling for policies to be adopted that will improve the current situation.
The health care system in Canada requires profound changes, which involves, among other things, rethinking the way we manage human resources. Given that the delivery of health care is the responsibility of the provinces and territories, the national magnitude of the health care workforce shortage is largely unrecognized. What we do know is that the lack of capacity in primary care puts undue pressure on emergency departments and hospitals. For example, Canada lags behind other members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in terms of the number of physicians: the country has 2.7 per 1,000 inhabitants compared to an average of 3.5. In addition to the physician shortage, the distribution of health workers is uneven: the 8% of physicians working in rural areas care for the 19% of Canadians who live there. The federal government’s commitment to invest $ 3.2 billion to add 7,500 family physicians, nurse practitioners and nurse practitioners is welcome, but a comprehensive health human resources plan is needed to strengthen the workforce.
In addition to supporting healthcare workers, policy makers must absolutely prioritize their physical and psychological safety.
Last month, the CMA called on the federal government to legislate to respond to the recent escalation in harassment and threats of online violence against healthcare workers. We were encouraged to see the government act swiftly by introducing Bill C-3, which makes bullying, harassment and threats against healthcare workers a criminal offense no matter what. the circumstances in which they occur. We hope that this law will be passed quickly by Parliament.
Sustained health care funding is needed, and we call for swift disbursement of funds pledged during the federal election. To reduce waiting lists in the health care system, we need an investment of $ 6 billion. In addition, more than $ 9 billion will be required to improve long-term care in Canada, which includes hiring 50,000 patient attendants and establishing national standards.
Finally, the effects of the pandemic on mental health are increasingly evident, but we are encouraged by the creation of the post of Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health. This essential portfolio highlights the need for increased support in this area.
In addition to the need for new investments, we recognize that there is a need to rethink how care will be delivered in the future. We have the opportunity to challenge the status quo and ensure that everyone can get the care they need. Let us focus on working together – across provinces and territories and across party lines – to ensure that Canadians have access to the health care system they will need in the future.