Who owns, operates and provides services in our hospitals? Public or private? It makes a big difference. A public hospital costs less, delivers more and is dedicated to the public interest.
Did you know?
- Privatization directly threatens patient care and services. Yet governments allow for-profit companies to design, build, finance and operate our hospitals through public-private partnerships (PPPs).
- PPP hospitals cost more. In North Bay, Ottawa, Montreal, Brampton and Vancouver, the budget was smashed with billions of dollars. Worse, there are fewer beds than promised and they do not meet the needs of the population.
- Despite these failures, Conservative and Liberal governments continue to support P3s, such as the hospital redevelopment projects in Red Deer, Bowmanville and Halifax. In Newfoundland and Labrador, dozens of new health care facilities will also be created under P3s.
- To make profits, the private sector cuts services, staff, beds and resources. Patients are treated in corridors, which prolongs their hospital stay and increases the risk of infection.
- Privatization also means subcontracting services such as cleaning, cooking and laundry to for-profit companies. However, when we outsource cleaning and reduce staff, the rate of nosocomial infections (superbugs) increases. As a result, stays are longer, costs are skyrocketing, and preventable deaths are occurring.
- Outsourcing also leads to reduced hours and wages, work intensification and staff shortages. All of this harms the health and safety of workers and the quality of patient care.
Public hospitals are best for patients and communities.
- For the common good, it is the State which should build our hospitals, because it can borrow at a better interest rate than the private sector. Construction therefore costs less.
- It is up to the public to own and operate our hospitals, so that the health budget goes to care, instead of inflating the profits of private companies.
- Hospitals absolutely must stop outsourcing services. Outsourcing and cutting staff in the name of profit harms patients.
- More cleaning staff is needed to optimize cleanliness, reduce infections and provide a safe and healthy environment for patients.
- Fresh, nutritious meals must be prepared on site, adapted to the needs of patients in order to stimulate their appetite and, thus, promote their speedy recovery.
- In-house laundry services cost less than outsourcing, in addition to protecting local jobs (as the private sector tends to centralize its activities in order to increase profits).
Public solutions provide more for everyone, for less.
A public hospital costs less, provides better care and is dedicated to the common good. The state protects our hospitals and our health better by financing and administering them than PPPs can.
Our governments must act now to save our hospitals.
