Premier Danielle Smith continues to play footsie with a really good health-care policy idea in place throughout the European Union. It could particularly help low- and middle-income patients in Alberta and it polls well, to boot.
Instead of musing about it, the premier would be wise to try it out as a pilot project.
It’s easy to see how this policy could immediately help many patients. Instead of spending a year of your life in pain, off work and waiting for surgery in Alberta, you could potentially go to the U.S., Europe or some other developed nation and receive surgery in a couple of weeks.
It’s easy to see why so many people would like it. Health care is in crisis across Canada. Many patients are desperate. Wealthy Canadians have the funds to go abroad if they want to avoid long wait times, but low- and middle-income patients are often left behind. This policy would give all patients an option to escape long wait times.
So, what’s the holdup?
But this policy doesn’t really cost more money. If Alberta Health provides patient John Doe with surgery in six months at a cost of, say $15,000, then it doesn’t cost more if Alberta Health reimburses him next week for the same amount after he receives surgery in the U.S., Europe or some other location with reputable health care.
Smith has noted that her government is pursuing a number of health reform measures and wants to give them a chance before implementing a reimbursement policy. We should all hope that her reforms are successful, but reform takes time and countless patients are suffering right now. Reimbursing patients for care abroad is an accountability measure, one that recognizes that the government has taken their money, but hasn’t provided care in an ethical time frame.
To be sure, this concept is imperfect. Without a doubt, it’s more convenient for patients to receive surgery in their hometown.
But what this policy does is give patients another option — wait in Alberta for surgery, or travel and get treatment sooner. For many, it will be a lifeline to escape the chronic pain, loss of income and other struggles they face right now
If Smith tries out such a project, she’ll likely find a lot of happy patients while creating a more accountable health-care system.
Colin Craig is the president of SecondStreet.org, a Canadian think-tank.