After reporters emerged from the media lock-up when the Romanow report was released Nov. 28, they witnessed more spinning than the scribes who cover the World Figure Skating Championships. Following its release, everyone from Canada's dental hygienists (“we need categorical dental hygiene services for low-income Canadians”) to Ontario's pharmacists entered the debate. Here is the reception Romanow's report received from some of health care's major players.
· “The commission's report should give Canadians considerable cause for optimism. It now becomes a question of national leadership: Mr. Romanow has put meaningful health care renewal within our grasp, and what is needed is the political will to move forward. For this to happen, Canadians must speak out now.” Dana Hanson, President, CMA
· “There's an untenable shortage of family physicians in Canada. Canadians are personally experiencing these shortfalls and it is critical that any action include immediate and long-term increases to [provide] adequate numbers of nurses and doctors in Canada.” Peter MacKean, President, College of Family Physicians of Canada
· “Half the medical care delivered in Canada is specialty care, but not one of the report's 47 recommendations dealt specifically with specialty care.” Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
· “We need to stop people from getting sick in the first place.” Christina Mills, President, Canadian Public Health Association
· “Government wins, patients lose.” Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies
· “The devil will be in the details.” Sharon Sholzberg-Gray, CEO, Canadian Healthcare Association
· “Mr. Romanow's report demonstrates conclusively that there is absolutely no credible evidence linking for-profit delivery to improved efficiency.” Robert Calnan, President, Canadian Nurses Association — Patrick Sullivan, CMAJ