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I was happy to see Dr. Dutton et al add Canadian data to the literature supporting prioritization and investment in social care. I agree that social determinants of health can have as significant an impact as health care on life expectancy — sometimes more. I also agree that using evidence to thoughtfully drive policy yields better decision-making than political agendas.
What I am disappointed by though is the authors’ need to single out negotiations for physician funding as a lack of “shared understanding that spending on social services may also improve health outcomes.” A statement like this seems totally misplaced in an otherwise well-written paper.
Physician services are indeed a significant line item in health care spending — but they tie for third with nursing services, lagging behind spending on hospitals and pharmaceuticals. So why jump on doctors? Thoughtful cost-savings should be sought out in all aspects of government spending.
Unfortunately, statements like this fuel the culture of distrust in doctors by playing on the politics of envy and division. Literature shows that fewer physicians per capita exert a negative effect on population health. Literature also shows that health care interventions like vaccines, cataract surgeries, diabetes management and angioplasties — physician-led endeavours — have also improved life expectancy.
Balancing efficiency with equity of care should be the primary goal of all health care systems — one that we should advocate for together. Singling out physicians only detracts from the argument at hand.