SASKATOON – A former Saskatchewan finance minister says the time has come for patients to cough up some of the cost for care.
Janice MacKinnon says in a study commissioned by the Ottawa-based Macdonald-Laurier Institute that rising health-care costs are crowding out spending in other areas such as education.
MacKinnon, who is a professor of fiscal policy at the University of Saskatchewan, says it’s time for co-payments.
But she rejects the idea of user fees, saying they could discourage people from seeking care.
MacKinnon says the best way to levy the costs would be to use the income-tax system with a ceiling at three per cent of income.
She also says more use of private clinics, home care, long-term and chronic care facilities would be more affordable than hospitals.
- Train goes up in flames while rolling through London, Ont. Here’s what we know
- Budget 2024 failed to spark ‘political reboot’ for Liberals, polling suggests
- Wrong remains sent to ‘exhausted’ Canadian family after death on Cuba vacation
- Peel police chief met Sri Lankan officer a court says ‘participated’ in torture
Comments