Question 1:
In a poll conducted by Innovative Research Group in August of 2016, healthcare is the number three issue (behind housing and the economy, and just in front of education) on the minds of BC voters.
If elected:
A) How will your government improve the delivery of cancer care and other healthcare services in BC?
B) Will your government restructure healthcare delivery, and if so, how?
C) How will your government ensure that cancer patients receive the services they need, including home care, financial assistance during recovery and for long-term side effects of cancer and/or treatment?
D) What will your government do to better the wait time for people who require an operation?
Question 2:
A key element of providing timely treatment for cancer patients is ensuring that they have access to the medications they need at the time they need them. Unfortunately, this is not always the case in British Columbia.
As of January 31, 2015 British Columbia drug plans covered 19.6% of the 464 new drugs approved by Health Canada from 2004-2013 and the average number days to list the new drug covered under each public drug plan was 787 (Coverage for new medicines in Canada’s public drug plans, 2015, Mark Rovere and Dr. Brett J. Skinner).
A) If elected, will your government commit to increasing the number of new cancer and other drugs approved for public reimbursement so that all British Columbians have timely access to the drugs they need, and if so, how will this be accomplished?
B) If elected to government will you undertake negotiations leading to regional collaboration to ensure timely patient access to cancer drugs?
Question 3:
A study published from the University of British Columbia says that one in 12 Canadians (aged 55 and older) were the second most likely among comparable countries to stop filling their prescriptions in 2014 because of cost.
A) If elected to government, what will your party do to make prescription medications more affordable?
B) Why is there such a difference between BC and other provinces?
We thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Yours sincerely,
Kati Oliver
Program and Projects Manager | Gestionnaire, Projets et programmes
Canadian Cancer Survivor Network
Response:
Dear Kati, thank you for taking the time to write. I am very proud of our health care platform, with our emphasis on creating an integrated, fiscally sound approach to health and wellness.
I will answer your questions in short form here, but urge you to read the full platform at http://www.bcgreens.ca/health
1. A BC Green gov’t will establish a Ministry responsible for health promotion, disease prevention and active lifestyles. We will explore additional measures to discourage consumption of harmful substances and invest $35 million in nutrition and physical activity programs, thus prioritizing prevention. We will allocate $100 million for the expansion of support for interprofessional, integrated primary care to be provided by physiotherapists, nurse practioners, midwives, dietitians and other health professionals. We will invest in new long term care facilities and require adequate staffing; and $35 million in home care to enable people who need assistance to stay in their own homes. We will work with health authorities to remove identify and remove barriers to integrating services between acute and post-acute care. Our economic platform includes increasing assistance rates and introducing a basic income so people are supported regardless of what is happening in their lives.
2 & 3 .The federal Green Party has always advocated for a national pharmacare program and a BC Green gov’t will work to achieve this. We will re-fund the UBC Therapeutics Initiative to ensure prescription drugs are made available and covered based on scientific evidence. We will work to remove barriers to care so that British Columbians can get the services they need.
Sue Moen
BC Green Party candidate
North Island