RNAO appreciates the opportunity to provide feedback to the Standing Committee on Social Policy on Bill 74, An Act concerning the provision of health care, continuing Ontario Health and making consequential and related amendments and repeals, known in its short title as, The People's Health Care Act, 2019.
Each day across the province, many Ontarians receive life-saving and wellness-enhancing health services thanks to Canada's Medicare – a universal, single-payer health insurance system cherished by its citizenry. The support and care of a person's chosen family aligned with the knowledge, skill, and judgment of dedicated health professionals has allowed many Ontarians to have a high-quality life and a peaceful death. While acknowledging these strengths, there is much left to do. For many years RNAO has been urging the provincial government to recalibrate the balance between life-saving and wellness-enhancing services (strengthening the later), and address flaws that result in barriers to access with inequitable health outcomes, hallway health care, and other detrimental experiences.
RNAO supports a health system transformation that will enable a person-centred, seamless health system that will promote health, prevent disease, and provide personalized wrap-around services to manage acute, chronic, and palliative care needs. In order to realize this objective, RNAO is pleased to offer the following pragmatic, solution-focused recommendations:
