Stop
health sector privatization
The McGuinty
government was elected to rebuild public
health care and public services in Ontario –
not sell them off to the private sector. So
why is Health Minister George Smitherman
planning to contract out the Trillium Drug
Program?
The Trillium
Drug Program provides subsidies to more than
200,000 Ontarians who face extremely high
drug costs. The program’s clients include
people with arthritis, cancer, cystic
fibrosis, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, multiple
sclerosis, respiratory diseases and other
serious health problems.
The
WRONG way to go
Contracting out
means people who can’t afford medically
necessary drugs will have to rely on a
private, for-profit corporation to review
and approve their applications for coverage.
Privatization
will also put clients’ confidential health
records and income tax information into the
hands of the lowest bidder. Sound like a bad
idea? It is! In Ontario’s privatized
drivers’ licence system, the Auditor General
found private contractors responsible for
thousands of security breaches, including
the loss or theft of 56,000 drivers’
licences, plates and other permits.
As part of the
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the
Trillium Drug Program is now run by skilled,
dedicated employees. The program is
launching a new automatic application
renewal system. It can be run
efficiently within the Ontario Public
Service.
