20 - North Shore News - Sunday, June 4, 2000 THIS is the second col- uma I’m writing on the Elder College lecture series on our health-care system. Dr. Robert Evans, a profes- sor at UBC’s department of economics, is a specialist in heaith policy, and was 2 mem- ber of the Seaton Reyal Commission on health care and costs. He is strongly . opposed to private payments ; for health and hospital care and gave us detailed reasons why bringing in a “two-tier” system would net improve our health care in Canada. ~.7. Dr Evans stated that the media has made much of the argument that our health-care system is underfunded, that costs are “ “skyrocketing,” and “that long wait lists for surgery - Free parking ¢ Free or other creatments are a result of an inefficient system driven by overpaid union members and administrators. What the media has not emphasized, he said, is the fact that the fastest growing costs to the health system are those of prescription drugs — three times the increased expendi- ture on doctors and hospitals. He and his colleagues at UBC have studied our system and those in the U.S. and Europe, and they feel that improvements can and should be made in many areas. First of all, he stated that we need to look more closely at our present system, and to do more work on determining the effectiveness of the care we provide to all patients. Will putting more money into the system mean we get more services? Or will it instead result in higher incomes for the care providers? Dr. Evans believes that bet- ter management of personnel, wait lists, and hospital and long-term care beds can be accomplished without increas- ing spendin oThe question of privately run clinics and hospitals also discussed. Only the forefoot and the heel _ rest on the ground. The metatarsal - _arch is not supported. SENIORS The GaSe for single-tier health care Dr. Evans stated that the capital costs involved in build- ings and equipment are more readily examined in a public system accountable to an clect- ed government than in a pri- vate Company, accountable only to its shareholders. And of course, where the profit motive is the bottom line, there may be a tendency to cut corners or to pressure patients into paying for extra, unin- sured services. He used examples of stud- ies of the British system, where both public and private health care has been available for some years. It has been shown that sur- geons spend more time with their private patients than with the public ones. In the long run, the public hospitals have fewer dollars for new equip- ment and fewer experienced physicians, resulting in lower quality of care for those who cannot afford to pay privately. It is well known that peo- ple with lower incomes have a poorer health status in general. Lf poorer peuple (including the 2,000 low-income seniors on the North Shore) have to wait longer for services because the private clinics have more . The foct is guided back into its natural arch. Most of the foot tests on the surfis:e. See our Orthotis for all U your custom m orthotics. Dav St: Georg 985-8771 elivery for Pharmacy Prescriptions j . We do this by following a.well-proven and disciplined “:. investment philosophy. We buy excellent businesses in oe iene pron - Dundee Securities Corp. 402-609 West Hastings St. Vancouver, BC V6B 44 | (604) 687-5884 strong, long-term growth industries and we hold these - investments for the long run. This way, we're able to _ preserve and grow investor capital. Equally important, at AIC, we minimize taxes payable .by our unitholders ,by not selling these excellent ‘businesses as long as their long-term prospects remain strong. By not selling, you benefir as your capital compounds tax free. resources. their health status will deteriorate further, and in the long run the taxpayers will have to pay more. Middle-income seniors, in particular, may be encouraged to pay to “jump the queue” as 1 have been told is happening on the North Shore for people needing cataract surgery. Finally, Dr. Evans again stressed the need to reorganize the whole system, to make it more efficient and to improve our knowledge of the effee- Hiveness of many new treat- ments where there have been few clinical studies. It seems to me that his position supporting a single- tier, single-payer system can result in a more cost-effective method of making good health care available to all, if we can all work together to make sure that we make use of all our resources. These resources include not just tax dollars but the expertise and caring available from our doc- tors, nurses, pharmacists, and all of our friends and volun- teers in our community. Mary Segal is coordinator of Lionsview Seniors’ Planning Society. Idens for future colunms are welcome. Contact Segal at 985-3852 or drop a line te Lionsview Sentors’ Planning Society, North Building, 600 W. Queens Ra, North Van, B.C, V7N 2L3. NEWS photo Paul McGrath . Voices of generations STUDENTS from Upper Lynn Elementary joined. seniors from the Lynn Valley. Seniors Association for a concert at the school. Both groups participate in the interlink program, in which they write letters to each other and sing ina chole. rE CARE HOME HEALTH SERVICES ws Ws fe Care Home Health Services has just celebrated its 4th Anniversary on the North Shore. Original owner Barb Munholland says she can’t believe how the business has grown. ; Four years ago, We Care consisted of Barb in the office and 6 homecare workers in the fled. Now there are 5 full tine ice , staff and 50 people caring for clients at home. “There is obviously a huge need for homecare on the Nonb Shore,” says Barb, ‘and most of it has to do with people becoming more aware of the services available”. Barb cites the baby boomers who are parents working out of the hore with a family to care for, plus aging paren who need : help as a good part of her business. ‘you else to look in on and care for your foved ones,”. says Barb and has where we come." Caring or sens big part Filing ied and developing a wonderful reputation is realy ao what helps'a business grow. Bart, Marilyn, Jean, Christine, * - Debbie, and the rest of the siaff spend their days caring fo people at home. is called “We Care" fora reason because; » Call for a complimentary in tori consultation: They're sealable 24 hoes day 7 day apek. There always a live @ DUNDEE if SecuniTies conPORATION MMM Boxe wecate’ : ing commissions, management =e “Home Health Services Health S Services sat ths 2d HOA YOU petty AC Lied a RE : i iS change frequently 2nd past performance, may ‘ot be!