Which one-healthcare or wealth care-will we allow to be the outcome of the latest "Conversation on Health?" BC governments have had studies, commissions, and task forces on healthcare since the Minister of Health announcement in 1984. None appear to have had an impact, as demonstrated by the latest dialog titled "BC Conversation on Health."

On January 24, 2007, the Minister of Finance announced an additional $885 million dollars to increase the BC government spending for 2007/2008 to $13.1 billion. The reasons, which you can review in the announcement, are largely the same as every year before, yet we never ask whether we are squandering billions. Simply increasing the supply of money for the same reasons year after year, announcing another study to increase more public funding, and proposing more private paying services is about wealth care, not healthcare.

The funding of hospitals and select critical care diseases is important, but it is the tip of the iceberg under which is hidden the larger picture of Medicare, namely the daily delivery of health services in all offices and their outcomes. There are several topics whose impact on health services and cost are enormous, yet are hidden from discussion.

Education
Health topics that promote responsibility and choice of healthy lifestyle are a must for students between kindergarten and grade 12. We have the immediate ability to introduce, within the resources of our education system, topics for prevention and healthcare choices. Each year however, we graduate relatively health-illiterate young adults who subsequently become "educated" by television and magazine ads. Healthcare is as fundamental to education and success as reading, writing, math, and the use of a computer.

Our current topics do not adequately cover diet and exercise. This health illiteracy works against our attempts in adult life to promote and practice prevention. This also encourages simplistic approaches aimed at reliance on unnecessary pharmaceutical products.

Prevention
Awareness, choice, and prevention will make the meaningful difference leading to lower health costs and reduced illness. We have achieved much, by comparison, through safe drinking water, increased sanitation, and housing. The ongoing quality of life that is determined by our food choices, and decisions to exercise, for example, is a personal responsibility we owe to ourselves and our family. This form of prevention is often adversely affected by the very economy we have created for our comfort and enjoyment-convenience foods and a sedentary lifestyle, for example, do not help the cause of prevention.

The concept of prevention is also used in the context of an early diagnosis and treating of an existing condition to avoid its more severe or fatal effects. While necessary, this form of "prevention" recognizes that there is a continuation of that health problem.

Outcomes
Nothing is more important to a patient than early, correct diagnosis and immediate, appropriate treatment. Improving patient outcomes, in terms of lower costs, however, are never included in dialogs or conversations about healthcare. Many health problems can be treated at least as well, and sometimes better, by health professionals other than medical doctors, including nurse practitioners and chiropractic doctors.

Spine and spine-related conditions impact at least one-third of daily Medicare visits to medical doctors, despite evidence that shows chiropractic doctors can treat these same conditions with improved outcomes and without pharmaceuticals. Recognizing and acting on this information would free up more time and medical doctors for the urgent illnesses and health problems that are best taken care of by medical doctors.

The solution
Improved and affordable health care is the responsibility of each person, whether health professional, government authority, educator, media, or public/patient. It is up to each of us to become informed, understand our choices, and either act or speak up. Accepting the status quo will ensure the squandering of billions.

Don Nixdorf, DC is the Executive Director of the BC Chiropractic Association and a longtime member of HANS.

Want to search for other articles that may interest you?

Readers of this article also enjoyed...