Sask. physicians have diverse views - Commission On The Future Of Health Care - medicare - Brief Article

Community Action, March 18, 2002

REGINA -- Within the Saskatchewan Medical Association, there is a diversity of opinion about medicare's future but agreement that a crisis exists, said Executive Director Dr. Brian Sharfstein.

The SMA greeted medicare with a province wide strike when it was first enacted in the province.

The association sees five aspects of the crisis:

* access to care

* reduced funding

* provider morale

* public confidence and raised expectations

* lack of accountability and "bickering" among different levels of government.

The method of physician payment is only one issue to be discussed when looking at solutions, the association said.