How health co-operatives go beyond treating symptoms

More than 81 million people worldwide gain access to health and social services through co-operatives and mutuals. In Canada, one in 40 people uses co-operatives for wellbeing, medical and...

More than 81 million people worldwide gain access to health and social services through co-operatives and mutuals.

In Canada, one in 40 people uses co-operatives for wellbeing, medical and social services. As the sector continues to grow, co-operatives active in health and social care are looking at ways in which they can work together.

Earlier this year Vanessa Hammond, chair of the HCCFC – the Canadian federation of co-ops that provide wellbeing, social and medical services – visited the British Isles.

Co-ops in the HCCFC provide services such as wellness education and outreach, help with barriers to work access, prevention of accidents and illness and access to nutrition, housing and healthcare.

During her stay, Vanessa took part in conferences and met city councils, civic organisations, students and community organisations in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Birmingham.

Her aim was to exchange information about the achievements, challenges and potential of the sector.

She discusses her visit here, and explains how co-operatives shift the emphasis from treating patients’ symptoms to their wellness.

 

By Vanessa Hammond

As so often in the co-op sector, some of what we learned through talking was that our similarities are great but the differences give much scope for learning from each other and subsequent growth.

Canada, the UK and the Republic of Ireland share a history of tax-supported health care. We also share another reality – the World Health Organisation stated over half a century ago that our “health” is dependent primarily on our social connections, access to clean water, nutritious food and safe housing – the social determinants of health.

Despite this, the investment focus in all three countries is on medical, pharmaceutical and surgical services. Co-ops play a major role in shifting the focus to wellbeing – achieving and maintaining optimal wellness.

In this work, we have encountered somewhat different advantages and challenges. In Scotland and Ireland there is considerable level of government support for co-ops, which has either resulted from or created a feeling that co-ops should be initiated by such public bodies. This is not totally in keeping with the International Co-operative Alliance’s definition of co-ops, or co-op values and principles.

An advantage for Canadians is the fact that we can incorporate under either federal or provincial co-op legislation, and all are co-op-friendly. In British Columbia in particular, the legislation was amended in 2004 and 2013 in response to consultation with the sector.

In Canada there may also be stronger emphasis on fully utilising the co-operative definition, values and principles to ensure genuine member-ownership and engagement in all types of co-ops rather than relying on staff managers.

Another advantage in Canada is the concept of federations of co-ops within each sector. Through our federation we share expertise, best practices and best programmes through regular learning exchanges. We have created a unified voice for advocacy, and are inspired by each other’s work.

In retrospect, we know that “wellbeing” rather than “health” should be in our name as “health” has been co-opted by the medical profession. Regardless, we are delighted that we been invited to participate in a learning exchange in Ireland in September 2016 and that progress is being made to set up an informal network of “co-op doers” to learn from each other and to find ways of addressing the challenges we all face in Europe and Canada.

The visit to the RoI and UK was made possible by the dedication and organisation of Gerard Doyle of TSA and the Society for Co-operative Studies in Ireland, Geraldine Mullarkey of AgeAction in Leitrim, James Proctor of Co-ops UK and Cliff Mills of Mutuo in England, together with Jo Bird and Paul Gosling in L/Derry – thank you!

• For information about the September Learning Exchange and the Health and Social Services focus of the October 2016 International Co-op Summit in Québec, contact Vanessa Hammond at [email protected].

Special report: From Brazil to the NHS, co-operatives and healthcare – read more.

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