Proposed health fees would tax elderly, ill: Yukon Medical Association
Last Updated: Monday, November 17, 2008 | 11:33 AM ET
CBC News
The head of the Yukon Medical Association says the territorial government should avoid charging fees and premiums for health care, and instead find other ways of paying for its health-care system.
The idea of introducing fees has come up in a report by government officials and health researchers, released last week. Among the 40-plus recommendations, it suggests charging for medical travel and introducing health-care insurance premiums for services.
"That's one of the reasons why we love our country, it's because of health care and education. And we are attacking the fundamental aspects of what we are all about," Dr. Rao Tadepalli, president of the association, told CBC News on Friday.
"It's almost like a fear that … 'If I end up with a disease or cancer, then I'm going to be paying more.' I don't think that's right. I think we need to look at innovative models rather than taxing people who are sick and old."
Government officials have said the current health-care system cannot survive because of rising costs.
Some alternative options that Tadepalli said would save money would include using more electronic health records, and providing a wider range of services at private medical clinics.
"Counsellors to work out of our clinic, that can work under supervision care, nurses that can work out of our clinics — there's a lot of roles that are worth exploring that we haven't done," he said.
Teaming up with medical clinics would be considered a public-private partnership, not a privatization of medical services, Tadepalli said.
Health Minister Glenn Hart said he would organize a committee to study the recommendations and gather public input before reporting back to the legislature in the spring.
