Watch Dr. Danielle Martin on federal opportunities for health care in Canada
While the provinces and territories are tasked with delivering health care, the federal government through funding and enforcement of the Canada Health Act is responsible for ensuring universal public health care in Canada.
To discuss federal opportunities in public health care in the lead up to the 2025 Federal Election on April 28, Dr. Danielle Martin joined the Canadian Health Coalition’s Anne Lagacé Dowson for an online conversation on April 15. The webinar is now available for viewing here –
Dr. Martin is a founder of Canadian Doctors for Medicare and currently the Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at University of Toronto. She is an active family physician whose clinical work has ranged from comprehensive family medicine in rural and remote communities to maternity care.
Responding to the news that health care won’t be a topic covered during the national election debates this week, Dr. Martin said she is “disappointed as a family doctor.”
“I wish we could be spending our time talking about access to family medicine and primary care for every resident of Canada. I wish we could be spending time talking about pharmacare, dental care, and home and long-term care, and how we are going to support a health care workforce in light of an ageing population,” said Dr. Martin.
Dr. Martin pointed out that issues of economic sovereignty and affordability to be discussed at the leaders’ debates are health issues.
“There will be direct impacts on health when people can’t afford housing, when they can’t pay their rent, when there is no affordable housing available, when they can’t afford the chicken at their grocery store,” said Dr. Martin.
“All the topics that will be discussed at the debates boil down to the economic and social determinants of health,” added Dr. Martin.
Author of Better Now: Six Big Ideas to Improve Health Care for All Canadians, Dr. Martin’s 2014 presentation to a U.S. Senate Subcommittee about the Canadian health care system is making the rounds again on social media in light of Trump’s comments about America’s health care system.
Upcoming webinars at 12:00 PM EST –
Please note that each webinar has a different Zoom link and you must register for the Zoom link.
April 22 – Dr. Brandon Doucet, Chair, Coalition for Dentalcare, on dental care being an election issue. Register for the Zoom link.
April 29 – Steven Staples and Anne Lagacé Dowson, Canadian Health Coalition, on what the federal election results mean for public health care. Register for the Zoom link.
For the Zoom webinar links or more information, visit healthcoalition.ca or contact Tracy at tglynn@healthcoaliton.ca.
