Rally Marks Start of Conversation on Health

By 250 News

Protestors outside Coast Inn of the North in P.G as Conversation on Health  preapred to start

About 50 people, some carrying placards, gathred outside the oast Inn of theNorth in Prince George this morning, to  speak out about the Conversation on Health that was about to get underway inside the hotel.

Kathy Jessom,  withthe Hospital employees Union  told the gathering that despite the Government's efforts to relegate discussions  with health care workers to  private sessions out of the public view, "We are here thismorning, and we are talking with you and we are having a conversation on health."

The conversation on health is a year long process involving  forums throughout B.C. with the general public,  and  seperate sessions with the health care professionals, and  patient focus groups.  The Province says it is trying to sort through the priorities for health care   so  the system can  deal with the future bulge and stresses created by chronic disease and an aging population.

Protestors say while Victoria will  tell  you it cannot afford to spend more on health care, what the province really cannot afford  is  to NOT spend  more money on health care.

The protestors were also annoyed that not all  who wanted to  publicly address the conversation on health were able to take part. 

The  forums were set up  so that In the event there were more than 100 people or organizations wanting to take part in the day long public process,   a computer system made a random selection  of 100.  

In the case of Prince George, there were 260 applications to  take part,  100 selected.  Anyone who missed out on the selection was invited to make a submission in writing,or via e-mail.  Of the 100 selected to take part in Prince George,  70  showed up for the event, that number includes nearly a dozen who also took part in the rally outside. 

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