There is no doubt that British Columbia faces a significant challenge in addressing the rising costs of the health system. The question of how we can sustain this system for the next generation is on the mind of government and citizens alike. Answers to this question, however, are sought under the false premise that more health care equals health.
A look at our neighbours to the south quickly teaches us that this is not the answer. In reality, health care is only attributable for about 25 per cent of what makes us healthy. To really think about sustainability, we need to look in a different direction - one that prevents illness before it happens.
Chronic disease prevention, early childhood education, supportive housing and literacy initiatives are examples of opportunities known to reduce both health and social costs. These are essential investments for the long-term health of our citizens and the sustainability of our health care system. Unfortunately, it is often easier to cut these upstream programs because their benefits may not always be seen immediately.
Part of the challenge to meaningful change to our current system is the lack of vision and commitment to illness prevention and health promotion strategies. What is needed is a truly comprehensive public health strategy led by the provincial government. This strategy would lead a societal effort at health promotion and bring together the health sector and other sectors both inside and outside government. It is this type of innovation that is glaringly absent from the current discourse on health care. The unfortunate alternative is greater and greater demands for government expenditures to "fix" problems rather than prevent them.
Eleonora Molnar
Policy, Advocacy and Research Committee
