Despite the commitment to build real and lasting change brought about by the 2003 Accord on Health Care Renewal, progress falls short of what could—and should—have been achieved by this time, finds a report of the Health Council of Canada.
Its Rekindling Reform: Health Care Renewal in Canada, 2003 to 2008 report finds that action has been slow in many areas, particularly when it comes to catastrophic drug coverage.
“Progress on catastrophic drug coverage has stalled,” says the report. “Meanwhile, the current patchwork of government drug plans leaves millions of Canadians with little or no protection against financial hardship due to the cost of needed medicines.”
Still, the report finds that the 2003 accord has been a catalyst for change in some areas as some Canadians have better access to publicly insured prescription drugs, to primary healthcare teams, and to a range of healthcare services at home or in their communities.
“As we reflect on the speed and direction of healthcare renewal,” says Dr. Jeanne Besner, chair of the Health Council of Canada, “we find the glass is at best half full.”
To read the report on the Health Council of Canada’s website, click here.
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Plan Sponsors Prefer Less Volatility Over Higher Returns
Risk avoidance and volatility are the top priorities for plan sponsors in the wake of the credit crisis and the ongoing turbulence in the capital markets, according to a poll.
The SEI Global Quick Poll reveals that 62% of those surveyed said decreasing volatility in their investment portfolios while maintaining current returns is a higher priority than increasing returns while maintaining current volatility.
That feeling is most prevalent in larger U.S. plans—those with more than US$1 billion in assets—as 76% said their organization would not be willing to take on more active risk in an effort to increase returns.
The poll was completed by 305 executives overseeing pensions ranging from $30 million to more than $5 billion in assets. The executives represented five countries: Canada, the United States, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.