The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) convened a virtual town hall on March 3, bringing together a diverse array of stakeholders, including physicians, patients, health professionals, policy-makers, and health advocates. The town hall aimed to address pressing concerns regarding the state of Canada's health care system. Amidst a shifting political landscape marked by the prorogation of Parliament, a Liberal leadership race, and upheavals south of the border, the event sought to galvanize collective action toward improving health care services across the country.
Moderated by CMA CEO Alex Munter, the virtual conversation featured insights from David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, who highlighted significant public dissatisfaction with the current health care system. Coletto revealed that nearly four in ten Canadians rate their provincial health care system as poor, while 43% believe the situation is deteriorating. He emphasized the widespread concern among Canadians about escalating costs and accessibility issues in daily life.
“Regardless of your age, what part of the country you live in, your socio-economic or cultural background, the things you need in your life are more expensive and harder to get,” said David Coletto.
The town hall underscored the urgency of addressing these concerns as millions of Canadians express dissatisfaction with the system. An estimated 6.5 million Canadians lack access to a family doctor, spotlighting the critical need for effective solutions.
“Having access to a primary care provider is the perfect example of that,” Coletto added.
The CMA is leveraging this federal election period as a pivotal opportunity to collaborate with all political parties and candidates to identify actionable solutions for health care improvement. Munter assured participants of CMA’s commitment to advocating for health solutions throughout the federal election process.
“Count on us to make the case for health solutions throughout the federal election, including how to combat false information, promote physician mobility, drive down paperwork and support our health workforce,” stated Alex Munter.
In addition to political advocacy, the CMA encourages public involvement in health care advocacy through various channels. They are hosting the CMA Health Summit on March 27–28 in Ottawa as part of their broader strategy to engage stakeholders and promote solutions.
