BR Private Health – CP

Source: The Canadian Press – Broadcast wire
Sep 7, 2016

VANCOUVER – A lawyer for a private Vancouver surgical centre says B-C government restrictions preventing access to private health care violates the constitutional right to access timely medical services.

Peter Gall, who represents the Cambie Surgery Centre, says easing restrictions on private health care for medically necessary services would free up resources, shorten wait times and provide a safety valve for the public system.

Gall, who also represents a group of patients, was making opening arguments yesterday at a civil lawsuit in B-C Supreme Court challenging the province’s Medicare Protection Act.

The legal action was launched by Dr. Brian Day, co-owner of the Cambie Centre.

He wants to see the province adopt a hybrid health-care model similar to systems used in Europe.

The B-C Health Coalition and Canadian Doctors for Medicare, both interveners in the case, say Day’s legal challenge could create a two-tiered, U-S-style health-care system.

Justice John Steeves is expected to hear the case until at least February next year.

B-C Premier Christy Clark says the province has a legal obligation to defend universal medicare, but also says both sides in the case have compelling arguments.

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(The Canadian Press)

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