On Giving Tuesday, health charities call on government to give

After the flurry of spending on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, many Canadians will take part in Giving Tuesday; a global movement where people, charities and businesses join together to encourage giving in ways that help communities thrive. This year, the Canadian Cancer Society, the MS Society of Canada and Heart and Stroke are calling on the government to give to health charities—an integral part of the social fabric of Canada. At a time when health charities are critically important to support our overburdened health-care system, they are also facing great challenges. Charities rely on the generous donations of Canadians, but donations alone won’t be enough to weather the COVID-19 storm. Cancelled surgeries, appointments, and specialty care has resulted in a fourfold increase of Canadians seeking more support services. We are asking the federal government to help us continue our services so we don’t let down the millions of people who rely on us. Health charities contribute critical services to Canada’s health-care system. Every day, health charities improve the lives of Canadians and ultimately save lives. They help fill the gaps in the health-care system by offering services that Canadians have come to rely on. For example, CCS provides lodging for cancer patients who face financial burdens when travelling for their treatment. Heart and Stroke offers information and guidance on how Canadians living with heart disease and stroke can stay safe, eat healthy, and access key health services. The MS Society offers one-on-one peer support so that people living with MS don’t have to go through it alone. Supports like these are more important than ever; illnesses and diseases don’t stop during a pandemic. Canadians are still getting sick with ailments other than COVID-19 and their needs have only increased. One in three Canadians are diagnosed with a chronic disease, one in two with cancer, and COVID-19 has impacted Canadians’ access to care, including the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of surgeries and many more postponed appointments for diagnostics and specialty care. The Canadian Institute for Health Information just released a study that shows from March to June 2020, overall surgery numbers fell 47 per cent compared with 2019, representing about 335,000 fewer surgeries. This includes a 20 per cent decrease in cancer surgeries and a 21 per cent decrease in cardiac surgeries, both very troubling statistics. Health charities also work to eradicate disease and illness by funding ground-breaking research. Members that comprise the Health Charities Coalition of Canada collectively invest $155-million per year into health research in Canada, supporting thousands in the scientific community who are contributing to the breadth and depth of Canada’s scientific capacity. That research work is under threat if charities are unable to sustain funding levels. The difficulty is that, at a time when our services are needed most, health charities are being threatened. Health charities support 2.9 million Canadians directly and have seen, on average, up to a 50 per cent drop in revenue. This has meant interruptions in important research, staff layoffs, office closures, and reduced capacity for programs and services. But it’s the end users—those who rely on charitable services—that will be hardest hit. Despite the challenges we face, our dedication to Canadians is stronger than ever. We are calling on the government to acknowledge the important role of health charities by lending their support to a sector that has supported the health-care system for decades. These calls are not new. Since March, health charities have been calling on the government to take immediate action. Despite this, no movement has been made. In a recent public opinion poll conducted by HCCC, three in five Canadians support the federal government providing direct financial support so that charities can continue to provide their services. The very purpose of health charities is to help people in need. Now, it is health charities that are in need of help. On Giving Tuesday, as Canadians find ways to give even during times of financial uncertainty, it’s time for our government to give support to health charities, so we can continue to fund groundbreaking research and help those impacted by illness and disease who need us the most. Andrea Seale is the CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society; Connie Côté is the CEO of Health Charities Coalition of Canada; Doug Roth is the CEO of Heart & Stroke; and Dr. Pamela Valentine is the CEO of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. The Hill Times