It Takes More Than Knowledge to Fuel Healthy Lifestyles

Published in the Vancouver Sun Newspaper
Tuesday, September 15, 2009

By Bobbe Wood, Special to the Sun September 15, 2009

In the fight against heart and lung diseases, cancer and diabetes, politicians and policymakers may be as important as doctors and scientists.

Over the past several years, the evidence on the underlying social causes of these chronic diseases has been piling up in B.C., Canada and around the world. In fact, the estimated impact of social and economic conditions on our health (or risk for disease) is double that of the health care system, biology and genetics combined.

There is a human face to this as well. Many of the adults and children who are most likely to develop debilitating and costly chronic diseases are also those who live in poverty, face discrimination and have lower rates of education and literacy.

From focus groups, we know that people living on low incomes understand the choices they should be making -- to stay healthy they should eat plenty of vegetables and fruit, should be active and shouldn't smoke. The problem is that many cannot. They are weighed down by stress, empty bank accounts and a lack of support.

This gives us some interesting choices for how we plan for the coming demand on the healthcare system that is anticipated as aging baby boomers move through the system.

The most recent B.C. Ministry of Health Services Service Plan stated that 34 per cent of British Columbians have one or more chronic diseases and they consume 80 per cent of the costs of PharmaCare, physician payments and acute (hospital) costs.

Yet we know that 80 per cent of heart disease and 50 per cent of cancers are preventable. So it is obvious if we want to get control of health care costs, we need to address chronic diseases and find ways that all British Columbians can live healthier lives.

The BC Healthy Living Alliance (BCHLA) has some ideas about how we can lower the demand for expensive treatments and make the most of our healthcare budgets. We can do this without jeopardizing programs and funding in the other ministries that are required to keep our economy humming and provide us with a high quality of life.

Today, BCHLA is releasing its report, "Healthy Futures for BC Families, policy recommendations for a healthier British Columbia" in which we urge all levels of government to work with communities, first nations, business and the non-profit sector to put in place policies that can improve health outcomes in B.C. and ease the burden on the healthcare system by addressing social issues that will provide other benefits.

BCHLA is not alone. Over the past year, we consulted 360 representatives from 202 groups across the province. These opinion leaders, professionals and activists came from academia, business, municipal government, first nations, education, service organizations and the non-profit sector.

It was widely acknowledged that certain groups face systemic barriers and the poverty they experience personally interferes with our collective prosperity.

There was overwhelming support for policies to increase affordable housing, expand early childhood development programs and care, keep at-risk kids in school and create communities where people can get to services and recreation on foot or by bus.

Across the board, organizations were calling for government to increase communication and collaboration internally, between ministries and with communities.

We know that these are difficult economic times, and many tough decisions have to be made, but we can not afford to stop planning for the future.

Indeed, many of the policies and programs we are advancing hold potential economic benefits and others would not be a great burden on the public purse, but require innovation and imagination.

It is often said that the greatest health advance of the last century came from those who brought clean water and sanitation to the public. In the 21st century, our elected politicians need to play a central role to make possible the next great health breakthrough.

Bobbe Wood is (Past) Chairwoman of BC Healthy Living Alliance and CEO the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.