Do we need further specialised researches in Sask health care?

Do we need further specialised research in Saskatchewan health care?

By Mario deSantis, May 20, 1999

Sask.'s
failing
health
Yesterday, I scanned the StarPhoenix and my attention was drawn to the headline "Sask.'s failing

health⁽¹⁾." In Saskatchewan, health care has been always an important concern for many reasons;

first, because the health of people is the precondition for a sustainable economic environment;

second, because it takes the largest portion of our governmental budget; and third, because

Saskatchewan has prided itself for creating the vision to extend medicare and hospital care to

all Canadians.

Saskatchewan moved from
a position of excellence
to one of mediocrity
The above mentioned headline makes reference to a research study conducted by Richard Plain,

a health science economist with the University of Alberta. In this study, Plain states that

"...In the short run, (Saskatchewan) moved from a position of excellence to one of mediocrity

as far as the health of its population is concerned..." The health of a population is correlated

to its health care system, and the fact that the health of our population has shown a progressive

deteriorating trend since 1992 is a strong indication of the breakdown of our health care system.

the deterioration of the health care system
. . . has been caused by health
reform
In particular, Plain's study shows that our provincial infant mortality rate has increased from 7.3

deaths per 1,000 live births in 1992 to 8.5 today. Further, Plain compares four statistical health

indicators for Saskatchewan, B.C. and Alberta and suggests that the deterioration of the health

care system in Saskatchewan has been caused by health reform. Premier Romanow introduced

health reform in 1992 in order to contain health care spending which were consuming 33% of

the governmental budget; oddly enough, today, health care spending in Saskatchewan has

increased to some 40% of the budget⁽²⁾.

"...to try and link (poorer health) to health reform would be a mistake..."
Plain's study has triggered comments from many parties. Glen Beck, a professor of health

economics at the University of Saskatchewan, said that the erosion of health services, particularly

in rural Saskatchewan, is one reason for the overall deteriorating health, but there are probably

many other factors. Beck and Plain agree that more research is needed into the reasons for the

poor results in Saskatchewan. Dr. David Butler-Jones, Saskatchewan's chief medical officer

said it's difficult to put much value in statistics which cover such a short time period. He added

that the health of a population is also affected by other factors such as housing, education

and income levels and that "...to try and link (poorer health) to health reform would be a mistake..."

the root cause of the problem are social, not medical
Northern Saskatchewan medical health officer Dr. James Irvine and University of Saskatchewan

professor Allen Backman agree with Dr. Butler-Jones. Irvine said that the poor health indicators

in the north are mostly due to the substandard housing conditions rather than to the number of

hospitals in the area. Backman stated that "...pre-natal care is not as important as addressing

alcoholism, drug abuse and other factors... the root cause of the problem are social, not medical..."

I have written a number of articles in health care addressing problems of business ethics, of

we require a new way to think where strategic plans and numbers take second place to our visions and values
management organization, of politics and economics⁽³⁾. These articles have all provided an

underlying knowledge that the problems affecting health care cannot be narrowed down to

specific reasons, rather they are cultural and originating in our obsolete mentality to find a

reason for any problem and to look for quick solutions⁽⁴⁾. Therefore, I don't agree with the

provision of additional taxpayer money for conducting further researches, especially so, when

researchers allege pressures, from the sponsoring agencies, to falsify the conclusion of their

studies⁽⁵⁾. The problems in health care, as in any other industry today, are problems of leadership

and innovation as warranted by the emerged New Economy⁽⁶⁾. In Saskatchewan, we require a

new way to think where strategic plans and numbers take second place to our visions and values⁽⁷⁾.

surgery waiting lists get longer, and corruption is rampant.
We can't continue conducting never ending researches to find what is wrong in our health care

system and blame organizational structure, lack of money or people for our own mistakes.

Problems in health care are not of a microscopic nature: most of our graduating medical doctors

and practising doctors leave the province, health care workers are not happy of the policing

management practices, surgery waiting lists get longer, and corruption is rampant.

Our leadership is representative of the decadence of our social fabric
Our leadership is representative of the decadence of our social fabric; we have a constitutional

lawyer in Premier Romanow who used revolving bank accounts⁽⁸⁾ to pay his office expenses,

a Minister of Health in Pat Atkinson who acknowledged the neglect of the government for not

listening to Saskatchewan Nurses for the last nine years⁽⁹⁾, and an Associate Minister of Health in

Judy Junor, who has stated recently "...Today, as in the past, Saskatchewan is leading the way in

developing health services that are responsive to people's health needs and sustainable into the

coming century..."⁽¹⁰⁾

We just have to look at ourselves
Today, we don't need further researches to find what is wrong in our health care system. We just

have to look at ourselves, and work hard to learn how to be ourselves in our thoughts, feelings

and actions.

-------------Endnotes:

1.
Sask's failing health, by Jason Warick, The StarPhoenix, May 19, 1999, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

2.
A Number Game, by Mario deSantis, April 1, 1999. Published in the North Central Internet News

3.
-
Refer to pertinent articles published in the North Central Internet News and listed at the site http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign/authors/desantis.html

4.
-
Refer to articles on System Dynamics published in the North Central Internet News and listed at the site http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign/authors/desantis.html

5.
-
SGI accused of meddling: Researcher claims she was told to falsify no-fault insurance study, by Kim McNairn, The StarPhoenix, May 14, 1999, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

6.
-
-
LEADER TO LEADER: Enduring Insights on Leadership from the Drucker Foundation's Award-Winning Journal, Editors: Frances Hesselbein & Paul M. Cohen, Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco, 1999, www.pdf.org

7.
-
Refer to the series of articles on the NEED OF TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGES IN SASKATCHEWAN published in the North Central Internet News

8.
-
Premier Romanow's Latest Magics: Shuffling Numbers & Mysterious Bank Account, by Mario deSantis, May 16, 1999. Published in the North Central Internet News

9.
-
MINISTER APPEALS TO NURSES, Government of Saskatchewan, News Releases, Apr 12, 1999 Health 99 - 287 http://www.gov.sk.ca/newsrel/1999Apr/287.99041205.html

10.
-
-
SASKATCHEWAN'S HEALTH SYSTEM TAKES NATIONAL STAGE, Government of Saskatchewan, News Releases, May 17, 1999, Health 99 - 481 http://www.gov.sk.ca/newsrel/1999May/462.99051405.html

Do we need further specialised research in Saskatchewan health care?
*By Mario deSantis, May 20, 1999*

Sask.'s failing health	Yesterday, I scanned the StarPhoenix and my attention was drawn to the headline "Sask.'s failing
	health⁽¹⁾." In Saskatchewan, health care has been always an important concern for many reasons;
	first, because the health of people is the precondition for a sustainable economic environment;
	second, because it takes the largest portion of our governmental budget; and third, because
	Saskatchewan has prided itself for creating the vision to extend medicare and hospital care to
	all Canadians.

Saskatchewan moved from a position of excellence to one of mediocrity	The above mentioned headline makes reference to a research study conducted by Richard Plain,
	a health science economist with the University of Alberta. In this study, Plain states that
	"...In the short run, (Saskatchewan) moved from a position of excellence to one of mediocrity
	as far as the health of its population is concerned..." The health of a population is correlated
	to its health care system, and the fact that the health of our population has shown a progressive
	deteriorating trend since 1992 is a strong indication of the breakdown of our health care system.

the deterioration of the health care system . . . has been caused by health reform	In particular, Plain's study shows that our provincial infant mortality rate has increased from 7.3
	deaths per 1,000 live births in 1992 to 8.5 today. Further, Plain compares four statistical health
	indicators for Saskatchewan, B.C. and Alberta and suggests that the deterioration of the health
	care system in Saskatchewan has been caused by health reform. Premier Romanow introduced
	health reform in 1992 in order to contain health care spending which were consuming 33% of
	the governmental budget; oddly enough, today, health care spending in Saskatchewan has
	increased to some 40% of the budget⁽²⁾.

"...to try and link (poorer health) to health reform would be a mistake..."	Plain's study has triggered comments from many parties. Glen Beck, a professor of health
	economics at the University of Saskatchewan, said that the erosion of health services, particularly
	in rural Saskatchewan, is one reason for the overall deteriorating health, but there are probably
	many other factors. Beck and Plain agree that more research is needed into the reasons for the
	poor results in Saskatchewan. Dr. David Butler-Jones, Saskatchewan's chief medical officer
	said it's difficult to put much value in statistics which cover such a short time period. He added
	that the health of a population is also affected by other factors such as housing, education
	and income levels and that "...to try and link (poorer health) to health reform would be a mistake..."

the root cause of the problem are social, not medical	Northern Saskatchewan medical health officer Dr. James Irvine and University of Saskatchewan
	professor Allen Backman agree with Dr. Butler-Jones. Irvine said that the poor health indicators
	in the north are mostly due to the substandard housing conditions rather than to the number of
	hospitals in the area. Backman stated that "...pre-natal care is not as important as addressing
	alcoholism, drug abuse and other factors... the root cause of the problem are social, not medical..."

	I have written a number of articles in health care addressing problems of business ethics, of
we require a new way to think where strategic plans and numbers take second place to our visions and values	management organization, of politics and economics⁽³⁾. These articles have all provided an
	underlying knowledge that the problems affecting health care cannot be narrowed down to
	specific reasons, rather they are cultural and originating in our obsolete mentality to find a
	reason for any problem and to look for quick solutions⁽⁴⁾. Therefore, I don't agree with the
	provision of additional taxpayer money for conducting further researches, especially so, when
	researchers allege pressures, from the sponsoring agencies, to falsify the conclusion of their
	studies⁽⁵⁾. The problems in health care, as in any other industry today, are problems of leadership
	and innovation as warranted by the emerged New Economy⁽⁶⁾. In Saskatchewan, we require a
	new way to think where strategic plans and numbers take second place to our visions and values⁽⁷⁾.

surgery waiting lists get longer, and corruption is rampant.	We can't continue conducting never ending researches to find what is wrong in our health care
	system and blame organizational structure, lack of money or people for our own mistakes.
	Problems in health care are not of a microscopic nature: most of our graduating medical doctors
	and practising doctors leave the province, health care workers are not happy of the policing
	management practices, surgery waiting lists get longer, and corruption is rampant.

Our leadership is representative of the decadence of our social fabric	Our leadership is representative of the decadence of our social fabric; we have a constitutional
	lawyer in Premier Romanow who used revolving bank accounts⁽⁸⁾ to pay his office expenses,
	a Minister of Health in Pat Atkinson who acknowledged the neglect of the government for not
	listening to Saskatchewan Nurses for the last nine years⁽⁹⁾, and an Associate Minister of Health in
	Judy Junor, who has stated recently "...Today, as in the past, Saskatchewan is leading the way in
	developing health services that are responsive to people's health needs and sustainable into the
	coming century..."⁽¹⁰⁾

We just have to look at ourselves	Today, we don't need further researches to find what is wrong in our health care system. We just
	have to look at ourselves, and work hard to learn how to be ourselves in our thoughts, feelings
	and actions.

-------------Endnotes:

1.	Sask's failing health, by Jason Warick, The StarPhoenix, May 19, 1999, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

2.	A Number Game, by Mario deSantis, April 1, 1999. Published in the North Central Internet News

3. -	Refer to pertinent articles published in the North Central Internet News and listed at the site http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign/authors/desantis.html

4. -	Refer to articles on System Dynamics published in the North Central Internet News and listed at the site http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign/authors/desantis.html

5. -	SGI accused of meddling: Researcher claims she was told to falsify no-fault insurance study, by Kim McNairn, The StarPhoenix, May 14, 1999, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

6. - -	LEADER TO LEADER: Enduring Insights on Leadership from the Drucker Foundation's Award-Winning Journal, Editors: Frances Hesselbein & Paul M. Cohen, Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco, 1999, www.pdf.org

7. -	Refer to the series of articles on the NEED OF TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGES IN SASKATCHEWAN published in the North Central Internet News

8. -	Premier Romanow's Latest Magics: Shuffling Numbers & Mysterious Bank Account, by Mario deSantis, May 16, 1999. Published in the North Central Internet News

9. -	MINISTER APPEALS TO NURSES, Government of Saskatchewan, News Releases, Apr 12, 1999 Health 99 - 287 http://www.gov.sk.ca/newsrel/1999Apr/287.99041205.html

10. - -	SASKATCHEWAN'S HEALTH SYSTEM TAKES NATIONAL STAGE, Government of Saskatchewan, News Releases, May 17, 1999, Health 99 - 481 http://www.gov.sk.ca/newsrel/1999May/462.99051405.html