Addressing Poverty as the Biggest Barrier to Health:

How can we move forward on pharmacare and public dental?

Jacquie Maund

Association of Ontario Health Centres jacquie@aohc.org

June 2014

Disclosure of Commercial Support

• Presenter Disclosure

• Presenter: Jacquie Maund

• Relationships with commercial interests:

• Grants/Research Support: None

• Speakers Bureau/Honoraria: None

• Consulting Fees: None

• Other: None

Poverty and Health

• 2013 CMA stated: poverty is leading cause of poor health

• Increased public recognition of poverty and income inequality over past 5-7 years

• Many provinces have taken action. Many local poverty reduction networks.

Poverty & Health

• Government is not explicitly linking poverty reduction efforts & health policies

• Opportunities for PHC providers and PHUs to contribute to public education & advocacy

• 2 issues directly relating to poverty & health

• Access to prescription drugs, and access to oral health care

Poverty Reduction efforts in Ontario

• Community campaigns • 2008: Ontario’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy

with target to cut child poverty 25% in 5 years • 2009: new Poverty Reduction Act • 2010:Long term Affordable Housing Strategy • 2012:Social Assistance Review report

Ontario PRS, 2008-2013

• New Ontario Child Benefit

• Minimum wage increases to $10.25

• Full day kindergarten

• Social assistance rule changes, minimal rate increases

• New protections for temp workers

• New public dental for low income children

Poverty Reduction: where are we at?

• Child poverty rate cut by almost 10% (2008-2011). • Little change in overall ON poverty rate of 12% (2011). • 2013: consultations for next PRS. • New asks on health benefits. • Spring 2014: Liberal gov’t was set to release next PRS • No gov’t or party talking about getting at root causes

of poor health through poverty reduction/elimination

Message to MPPs: Thousands of adults live with pain and infection because they cannot afford dental Care. OHIP pays to treat pain and infection in every part of the body except the teeth and mouth. I support extending provincial programs to include adults who need and cannot afford dental treatment.

Ontario Oral Health Alliance campaign

Opportunities for PHC & PHU to raise our voices

• Public, gov’t & media listen when health service providers speak up

• Speak, write, tweet, meet about need for gov’t action on root causes of poor health: low income

• We achieve better health outcomes when have

livable incomes, affordable housing and transportation, access to dental care & prescription drugs

Seeking more public & gov’t traction on expanding access to drug and dental

benefits • Oral health

Need your help to explain how lack of access to oral healthcare affects overall health

1 in 5 can’t afford dentist

Over 270,000 visit/yrs to ER & Drs for dental pain

• Access to affordable prescription drugs

Need your help explaining how high drug costs affect health outcomes

23% of Ontarians don’t have drug coverage