Medicare and Nursing
Few professional groups are as committed to the preservation of
medicare as nurses. Registered nurses have been key to building
Canada’s universally accessible health-care system. Under
the leadership of the Canadian Nurses Association, RNs fought very
hard for the Canada Health Act (CHA), and are extremely proud of
this achievement. Nurses are passionate about publicly funded health
care in their capacities as citizens, health-care users and health-care
providers. Nurses did not enter the profession to become wealthy,
but the rewards of caring for those in need are priceless. To continue
to support these vulnerable individuals, nurses know that the health-care
system must:
- Meet population needs from cradle to grave, including health
promotion, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care.
- Ensure providers have adequate support, on-going professional
development and sufficient time to respond adequately to clients’
needs.
- Provide a social and physical environment that promotes healthy
lifestyles and healthy workplaces.
For these fundamental necessities of health-care provision, RNs
believe that the five Canada Health Act (CHA) principles of universality,
accessibility, comprehensiveness, portability and public administration
are key to ensuring that they can provide health-care services to
all patients. These principles do not block innovation, and they
are the strongest defense available to block those who wish to dismantle
medicare.
Canadians cherish their health-care system and are prepared to
pay for it through a progressive income tax system. Registered nurses,
who are consistently regarded with the highest level of public trust
available to any profession, join with all Canadians in calling
for a financially sustainable, comprehensive medicare system. RNAO
supports increasing and stabilizing resources needed for health-care,
and urges the government to provide funding and incentives to advance
community care and use interdisciplinary teams to provide the best
possible care.
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Adapted from Strengthening
Medicare & Nursing: RNAO Submission to Standing Committee on
Finance and Economic Affairs. Referencing
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