analysis of Jacques Fournier
Good news. At a symposium on health cooperatives held in Montreal on Oct. 21 at the initiative of the Cooperative solidarity Villeray Health, the Director General of the Federation co-ops and health services at home, Benoit Caron, has announced the new direction of his Union for compliance with the Act Canadian Health.
Currently, most health co-ops require an annual fee that gives access to medical services and other services. Only a small number of co-ops offer medical services to non-members with no annual fee.
There are 40 co-ops in Quebec health, of which 25 are in operation. 54% constitute a new offer of medical services, while 38% have replaced an existing medical clinic and 8% have replaced a clinic closed.
careful though. Each coop is autonomous. There is no question Federation to exclude from membership any member who fails to comply with the Act . But, according to Benoit Caron, in response to a question, "the co-ops that do not meet the Act will be tempted to exclude themselves from the Federation .
This new direction will rejoice organizations defending the right to health, as the Solidarity Coalition Health and AQDR (Association for the rights of retirees and near-retirees). These organizations are fighting since 1991 against all forms of user fees, annual fees were a form of user fees. Scientific research has shown that user fees does not mean the rich classes have access to medical services but deprives the poor, and especially their children. Poorly treated, these poor people need more care then developed in hospitals, at the expense of the public sector. Co-payments increase, so just the overall costs of the system.
For cons, the new orientation of Federation of Coops Health will disappoint ... the president of the Federation of General Practitioners of Quebec (FMOQ), Dr Louis Godin. Indeed, the pricing policy applied by the cooperatives was being lead some physicians in private practice to do something illegal too. Dr. Godin stated that in Gatineau, like co-ops, doctors in private practice "may be tempted to impose, too, an annual fee to patients to cover expenses such rent and staff salaries " (Le Droit, 25 October 2008). The grass has been cut under the foot.
It now remains to publicize the new direction Federation of Coops of health from all Member co-ops, that they be vigilant and demand that their co-op's compliance with this orientation, so as to respect the law Canadian Health.
The conference of 21 October was titled: "Prevention and health promotion, experience remarkable a network of health facilities in Japan. " He also helped to know more about what is happening in Japan in the field of health co-ops.
Note: The author of this analysis was the delegate of AQDR in this symposium.
