International Digest
Canada
Ontario Chiropractic Association Continues Fight for Chiropractic
On Sept. 11, the board of directors of the Ontario Chiropractic Association
unanimously passed a resolution demanding that Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty
reconsider his decision to cut coverage of chiropractic treatment from the Ontario
Health Insurance Plan. The resolution was spurred by continuous phone calls
to the OCA from patients and their chiropractors, complaining about the government’s
decision.
“This decision to stop funding services completely undermines the goal
of the government’s new Local Health Integrated Networks policy of treating
patients through more effective community-based care. It will instead force
people in pain to seek treatment in hospital emergency wards,” OCA President
Dr. Dean Wright said.
On May 18, 2004, the provincial government announced that chiropractic would
be “delisted” from the OHIP, the province’s health care plan.
The action terminated more than 30 years of public funding for chiropractic
services in Ontario.
The OCA is calling on the government to meet with them to find solutions that
will provide cost-effective access to the public and support the government’s
financial and transformation agendas.
“As we move closer to the resumption of the Ontario Legislature, the OCA,
on behalf of chiropractic patients, is leaving no stone unturned in its campaign
to reverse this harmful decision to cut funding,” said Dr. Wright.
Canadian Chiropractors Address First Ministers Conference
Simply pouring more money into the healthcare system, doesn’t address the
real structural changes that are needed to improve the overall effectiveness of
healthcare delivery and outcomes for patients said representatives from the Canadian
Chiropractic Association recently following the conclusion of the First Ministers
conference on healthcare.
“Where is the plan to ensure this new money will be spent more wisely and
effectively than in the past,” said CCA President Dr. Grayden Bridge. “Spending
more without changing how health professionals work together, how health care
is delivered, and how health outcomes are measured will not improve the healthcare
system over the long-term.”
“For example, we know that a combination of early intervention and prevention
improves the health outcomes for patients – and saves the health care system
money. Reducing waiting times is a good step, but there are millions of patients
in Canada who might not even be on those waiting lists if changes were made to
minimize the acute care burden. That is the goal we must all aim for,” says
Dr. Bridge.
“While we commend Prime Minister Martin and the First Ministers for reaching
a funding agreement, at the end of the day we can’t forget that how we spend
it matters even more than how much we spend,” said Dr. Bridge.
Japan
Palmer Professor Gives Presentation at Japanese Conference
Stephen Duray, Ph.D., Palmer professor of life sciences, gave a research presentation
(which was co-authored by Stacie Martel, D.C., undergraduate studies) at the 16th
International Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists
in Kyoto, Japan.
The presentation was titled “A Quantitative Method for Estimation of Volume
Changes in Arachnoid Foveae with Age: Reliability, Validity and Practical Application.”
The IFAA Congress represents the largest meeting of anatomists in the world. Opening
ceremonies were presided over by the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
“It was a great conference held in a great city,” said Dr. Duray.
“Our project received a lot of positive attention and comments from fellow
participants. I was proud to represent Palmer and chiropractic at this event.”
WFC Launches Identity Survey to International Chiropractic
Groups
Since last year, the World Federation of Chiropractic has formed a task force
to establish a clear and effective public identity for the chiropractic profession.
Over the last year, they have encouraged associations all across the world to
update their e-mail databases and to promote interest in a survey of practitioners.
The survey notification e-mail was sent out on Sept. 27 to every e-mail address
included in the task force’s world-wide database. Then, an invitation was
e-mailed on Oct. 4 with a direct link to the survey online, which would be live
until Oct. 25.
The results will be compiled and a final report will published later.
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