Starting on September 8, 2014, the BC Supreme Court will be dealing with a dangerous legal attack on Canada’s public health care system.

For-profit clinic owner Brian Day is trying to use the court to strike down the rules that prevent a US-style system in Canada.

This case poses a huge threat because if Dr. Day wins, the public system that a majority of Canadians rely on and consider a pillar of our society could be dismantled across Canada.

Dr. Day claims that the defining principle at the heart of Canadian Medicare – that health services be provided according to patients’ needs, not their ability to pay – is unconstitutional.

Evidence shows that the kind of system Dr. Day is seeking would lead to longer wait times for care and poorer health for Canadians.  Source: [1] Keindler, SA. Policy Strategies to reduce waits for elective care: A synthesis of international evidence. Br Med Bull 2010; doi: 10.1093/bmb/ld1014.On top of that, there is no evidence that private, for-profit care results in better care – not anywhere in the world.  Source: (2) Devereaux, P.J., Choi, P.T., Lacchetti, C., Weaver, B., Schunemann, H.J., Haines, T., et al. (2002). A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing mortality rates of private for-profit and private not-for profit hospitals. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 166(11), 1399-1406.

Could Dr. Day’s true motive be all about making even more money?    A provincial audit of Day’s Cambie Surgery Centre and the associated Specialist Referral Clinic found that patients were unlawfully extra-billed $491,654 in just 30 days.    In one case, a Cambie patient was billed $7,215.00 for services that would only have cost $1,288.04 in the BC health care system.  Auditors also found over $66,000 in overlapping claims – evidence that suggests double dipping for the same services.   Source:  Medical Services Commission Report, 2012.

We need to keep our ears open and watch what is happening around this case because our public health care system is under threat because of Dr. Day’s legal attack.   It is the opinion of many Canadian health professionals that privatized, for-profit health care – as proposed by Dr. Day and his supporters – will mean that Canadians will pay more and get less.

Stefan Cieslik