BCHC sets up National Medicare Action Centre

'This is a great opportunity to voice your support for Medicare and send a message about the kind of health care system you want!'

Vancouver (18 Nov. 2010) - The British Columbia Health Coalition (BCHC) has set up a special "action centre" online as part of its effort to mark National Medicare Week.

Canadians need to fight for Medicare because promoters of for-profit, privatized health care are on the offensive across the country, the coalition says. Key figures in the federal government have made calls to dismantle national Medicare and end federal health transfers to the provinces.

"We are increasingly reading false claims in the media that public health care is unsustainable despite overwhelming evidence that it is private care that we cannot afford," the group says.

"And here in B.C. the province has begun to charge hospital fees for services previously provided to patients free of charge as required by the Canada Health Act," it notes.

The BCHC has put together a one-stop National Medicare Week Action Centre web page where citizens can send important messages to elected officials on issues of their choice. Options range from messages about investing in home and community care to defending Medicare from for-profit investors.

"This is a great opportunity to voice your support for Medicare and send a message about the kind of health care system you want!" the coalition says.

National Medicare Week is supported by Components of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). They include the Health Sciences Association of B.C. (HSABC/NUPGE).

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE

More information:
• National Medicare Week Action Centre