Community Health Centre Sought In Markham
Markham: A group of Liberal supporters and leaders in Markham are pitching for a new Community Health Centre (CHC) in the area. “I’m ecstatic,” said Dr. Naila Butt, executive director of the Social Services Network. “Seeing so many communities, all the representatives from all faiths, from all cultures, all the politicians in the same room talking about the same issue.”
Surprisingly, Vic Gupta, the PC candidate in the upcoming election, threw in his support even though his leader, Tim Hudak, is clearly not a fan of the Local Health Networks (LHIN). Gupta said a CHC would give local residents more health care options. “I have an aging parent,” he said. “I don’t want her to go to an emergency room as her only option … More care in the community would be a benefit to everyone.”
“The most important thing is the idea wins,” said Adam DeVita, provincial NDP candidate for the Richmond Hill riding. “Social Services Network did a really good job, playing all sides and getting everyone together. This is how democracy should work.”
The forum, at the Markham civic centre, was organized by the non-profit network that delivers programs and services to South Asians across York Region. The aim was to raise awareness about the proposed CHC.
The Social Services Network is developing a formal application to submit to the Central LHIN and the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care. Minister of Tourism and Culture and Markham MPP Michael Chan said the plan must be carefully laid out. “We need a good business plan. We have the people here; we have the support here. But we still need to submit a good business case to get it,” he said.
The Association of Ontario Health Centres identified Markham-Richmond Hill as one of the communities in need of a CHC. There are now 73 CHCs that serve 110 communities throughout Ontario. CHCs offer a wide variety of primary health care services under one roof, along with a broad range of health promotion and community development services. “You’re going to see less demand for emergency services because people are able to get the care they need before they have an emergency,” Mr. DeVita said.
Dr. Butt said a CHC would deliver more health services to local residents while being cost efficient. “I believe you cannot have a health system which is totally catering to the needs of the people that are sick. There is a larger community which is out there,” she said. “We need to promote health and well being. We need to prevent disease and that’s what it’s all about.”
At the community forum, a diabetic man told the audience how he lost 60 pounds after enrolling in the diabetic, diet and exercise programs at the CHC in Vaughan.
The Ontario government has doubled the number of CHCs in Ontario since 2003, Richmond Hill Liberal MPP Reza Moridi said, adding it is much easier to overcome language and cultural barriers in a CHC setting than a hospital. “We need to keep adding more,” he said.
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