JointHealth™ express October 2, 2020
On election day, make your voice count.
The general election in Saskatchewan is scheduled for October 26, 2020. ACE is asking the major political parties what their position is on arthritis prevention, treatment and care.
Arthritis is Canada’s most prevalent disease. And it’s far more serious than most people realize. Approximately one in five adults have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Two-thirds are under the age of 65. It’s common among athletes and those with physically demanding jobs.
Arthritis has devastating and debilitating effects on the lives of more than 160,000 Saskatchewan residents. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability and work disability in Saskatchewan. About a quarter of the population with arthritis between 20 and 54 years of age in Saskatchewan were not in the labour force because of their arthritis.
One of the most important voices in discussions about health care belongs to those most affected by health policy—the person living with chronic disease who can provide critically important perspectives in discussions about health policy; yet too often, consumers' voices are not heard.
And that’s why, it is so important your voice is heard in the upcoming Saskatchewan provincial election on October 26, 2020.
To help you with your decision, Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) sent an open letter and a survey to political party leaders and candidates running in the Saskatchewan election, asking how their government would improve arthritis prevention, treatment and care in Saskatchewan.
The questionnaire asked the following questions:
If you have comments, questions, or concerns about any of the answers provided, please take the time to contact the parties:
On election day, make your voice count.
The general election in Saskatchewan is scheduled for October 26, 2020. ACE is asking the major political parties what their position is on arthritis prevention, treatment and care.
Arthritis is Canada’s most prevalent disease. And it’s far more serious than most people realize. Approximately one in five adults have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Two-thirds are under the age of 65. It’s common among athletes and those with physically demanding jobs.
Arthritis has devastating and debilitating effects on the lives of more than 160,000 Saskatchewan residents. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability and work disability in Saskatchewan. About a quarter of the population with arthritis between 20 and 54 years of age in Saskatchewan were not in the labour force because of their arthritis.
One of the most important voices in discussions about health care belongs to those most affected by health policy—the person living with chronic disease who can provide critically important perspectives in discussions about health policy; yet too often, consumers' voices are not heard.
And that’s why, it is so important your voice is heard in the upcoming Saskatchewan provincial election on October 26, 2020.
To help you with your decision, Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) sent an open letter and a survey to political party leaders and candidates running in the Saskatchewan election, asking how their government would improve arthritis prevention, treatment and care in Saskatchewan.
The questionnaire asked the following questions:
- What will your government do to bring a high quality, accessible, standardized evidence-based model of arthritis care for all Saskatchewan residents?
- What will your government do to ensure the continuation, improvement, and expansion of virtual care for all Saskatchewan residents – both patients and health care professionals?
- What will your government do to improve the Province’s ranking on the ACE Report Card?
- What will your government do to improve the uptake of biosimilars and will you commit to reinvest those savings to support additional medication listings and improve patient coverage?
- What will your government do to improve the healthcare and lives of Indigenous peoples living with arthritis in Saskatchewan?
- Will your government take steps to ensure timely, specialized care for Saskatchewan patients with arthritis, including joint surgery wait times that are within medically recommended guidelines? How will your government manage the backlog of surgical appointments that occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?
If you have comments, questions, or concerns about any of the answers provided, please take the time to contact the parties:
- New Democratic Party (N.D.P.) Home Page
- PC Party of Saskatchewan Home Page
- Saskatchewan Party Home Page
Arthritis Consumer Experts
ACE thanks Arthritis Research Canada (ARC) for its scientific review of ACE and JointHealth™ information and education programs.