title: A conversation on health in Canada: revisiting universality and the centrality of primary healthcare.
abstract: In 2006, British Columbia launched a public consultation on how to strengthen the health system. We report on the processes and the inputs and views submitted and examine the perceived importance of universality and primary healthcare (PHC). Public response revealed strong support for the Canada Health Act, which upholds 5 principles: public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability, and accessibility, and also a need for the system to be more open to innovation. It recognized that keys to improving population health and efficiency gains within the health system lie within the scope of PHC and that prevention, demand management, and self-management are all part of PHC.
authors.affiliation: Pacific Health & Development Sciences, Inc, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. fwhite.pacificsci@shaw.ca
authors.forename: Franklin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nanan
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D001955:British Columbia; D019090:Case Management; D017144:Focus Groups; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D010346:Patient Care Management; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011640:Public Policy