there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.
– machiavelli
my fellow canadians. today we study why the health system we want is not the health system we have.
in the one we want, everyone has a regular source of care, wait times are short, more illness is prevented, mental health needs are addressed, chronic conditions are well managed, the workforce is happy and motivated and money is well spent. the one we have is … different.
first, we acknowledge that this inquiry takes place on the unceded territory of provincial medical associations, their fellow unions, regulators of health professions, educators, accreditation bodies, advocacy groups, and the drugs and devices industries.
the system and its performance are largely in their hands. sometimes their interests and ambitions align with ours. often they do not.
what about governments — the ones we vote in and toss out, duty-bound to pursue the greater good and put the public interest ahead of particular interests? on our behalf they are, in theory, to make policies and negotiate agreements that promote access, quality, fairness and value for money.