To effectively implement health equity strategies and quality-driven reform, it is crucial to know how well — and how — policies and service interventions are working. An important part of equity strategy must be evaluating what initiatives are most effective in addressing access and quality barriers, enhancing services for the most vulnerable and reducing overall health disparities.
By: Bob Gardner
On: Sep. 2, 2010
Equity-Focused Evaluation
By: Bob Gardner
On: Sep. 2, 2010
Advancing Health Equity in Tough Times
There is a serious chill within governments at all levels as the economy has declined and public finances have become constrained. This policy briefing sets out how to keep equity high on the agenda in the current fiscal climate.
By: Michael Shapcott
On: Aug. 26, 2010
National housing plan bill (C-304) set for final debate starting Oct. 20
Draft national legislation to create a comprehensive housing plan for Canada – Bill C-304 – is scheduled to go back to the Commons for the start of third (and final) reading debate on October 20. The bill, proposed by Vancouver East MP Libby Davies, was passed on first and second reading with the support of the New Democratic Party, Liberal Party and Bloc Quebecois, plus one Conservative MP. Canada hasn’t had a national housing plan since the 1990s. The Wellesley Institute’s new report, Precarious Housing in Canada, documents the state of housing insecurity in Canada, and underlines the urgent need for a federal housing plan. Leading national groups are urging Parliament to adopt C-304 at third reading, and the Wellesley Institute offered expert advice to a Commons committee last winter during its detailed review of the draft legislation.
By: Bob Gardner
On: Aug. 24, 2010
One Lever To Drive Health Equity Into Practice: Hospital Equity Plans
I’ve been working on pulling together various tools and resources to help policy makers and planners put health equity into practice — stay tuned here. One lever several LHINs have used is to have their partner hospitals do health equity plans. I looked again at this really useful analysis led by Sanjeev Sridharan of the hospital plans done within Toronto Central LHIN. This process proved very successful at mobilizing discussion and coordination within their organizations, and sharing experience across the system. The hospitals are now developing their second generation plans.
By: Nimira Lalani
On: Aug. 19, 2010
Who cares for the undocumented and uninsured?
Canada’s health care system is based on the principles of comprehensiveness, universality, portability, public administration and accessibility. But, many people are excluded from access to the healthcare they need because they are not eligible for provincial health insurance. Every year, thousands of people come to Canada, in particular to Ontario, Canada’s economic hub. Read the rest of this entry »
By: Michael Shapcott
On: Aug. 19, 2010
Will Ontario cabinet shuffle delay even longer launch of provincial affordable housing plan?
Ontario has a new Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing – the third one in less than a year. Rick Bartolucci moves into the housing / municipal cabinet post after serving as the province’s ‘top cop’ as Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Media reports portray Minister Bartolucci’s new posting as a demotion because of the controversy surrounding a ’secret’ G20 law passed in the summer. The cabinet shuffle raises concerns that Ontario’s much-needed long-term affordable housing strategy - which was supposed to be launched by June – will be delayed once again as the new Minister settles into his portfolio.
By: Michael Shapcott
On: Aug. 19, 2010
Wellesley Institute 2011 federal pre-budget submission: Invest in homes and innovation / equity
The Wellesley Institute’s 2011 federal pre-budget submission offers two major recommendations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance as it starts consultations for the 2011 federal budget. First, a down payment on a 10-year national housing plan as set out in detail in the Wellesley Institute’s Precarious Housing in Canada report (the federal government is set to make drastic cuts in affordable housing investments, and our recommendation calls for $1 billion in the coming year – which would maintain federal housing investments at the same level as 2009). Second, a $350 million investment in a national social innovation and equity strategy.
By: Estelle Sun
On: Aug. 18, 2010
Youth Community Voice – Photos
Thank you for joining us last night for our exhibition of photography and stories from St. James Town youth! The display featured aspects of the neighbourhood that are perceived to play a role in multicultural youth health and wellbeing. There was a great turnout and we received a lot of positive feedback from various community members, organizations, and people from outside of the community. Read the rest of this entry »
By: Wellesley Institute
On: Aug. 18, 2010
Diabetes links to low income in women, Stats Can
A Statistics Canada study released today finds that the instances of diabetes in low-income households is higher in women than in men. This report is the result of 15 years of research tracked by the National Population Health Survey (NPHS). The prevalence of diabetes is often associated with socio-economics, this new research clarifies and reinforces the links between low-income women and instances of diabetes.
Another interesting batch of research is the Toronto Diabetes Atlas which finds that high rates of diabetes occur in areas where people are less active, where there are no bike lanes, where people drive instead of walk. Their key findings, of course, include the link between low income and diabetes. These are all things that many of us know are associated with diabetes, but all of these factors, like income, location, community, diet, and activity, are what we refer to as “social determinants of health.” Ideally, people can afford to buy healthy food and live in communities that encourage activity, but we know that this is not always the case. What’s the solution? And, how do we get there?
Have a look at some of Wellesley Institute’s research and solutions to how policy reform can reduce poverty, increase equal access to services, fund better housing, promote healthy, active living – all factors that play a significant role in our health and wellbeing.
By: Bob Gardner
On: Aug. 5, 2010
Health Policy ‘Zombies’: One More Time
UBC health economist Bob Evans famously called arguments that Medicare is unsustainable or that we therefore need privatization zombies: meaning that these ideas are constantly refuted by all the evidence, yet they keep being raised again and again. Of course, that is because there are powerful interests driving these ideas. Economist Hugh Mackenzie and health policy consultant Dr Michael Rachlis have done an excellent analysis of how Medicare and a universal health system is sustainable and how the real answers to the pressures facing the system are better policy and management. They highlight that this debate is essentially political; that the fiscal pressures on health and other sectors come from government decisions to cut taxes and services, as opposed to inherent trends within the health system. They point the way forward: improved planning and management of care will control costs; service and organizational reforms can drive better quality care; enhanced primary care, health promotion and prevention can keep people well; and seeing all this as part of a comprehensive and integrated Second Stage of Medicare will underlie a vision of good health and well-being for all.
