Canadian doctors narrowly defeat motion backing user fees

August 23, 2007

The deep divide in the medical profession about charging patients for their health care came into sharp focus yesterday when doctors narrowly defeated a user-fee motion at the annual Canadian Medical Association meeting.

The motion, which proposed that patients should help fund their care with “co-payments and health savings accounts,” drew support from 48 per cent of voting doctors. Fifty per cent were opposed and two per cent abstained.

“Co-payments” mean patients would pay a fee when they see their doctors or obtain hospital services. “Health savings accounts” would enable people to stash savings in tax-sheltered accounts, to be spent on medical items such as home care, long-term care and prescription drugs. (The Ottawa Citizen)