Canadians' health divided by income: CMA

Via The Hook, the politics blog at The Tyee: Canadians' health divided by income: CMA. Excerpt:

The health gap is widening between rich and poor Canadians, the Canadian Medical Association says. The CMA is meeting in Yellowknife to consider how to reduce that gap. 

In a news release, the CMA released results of a public opinion survey that found "The health of Canadians is increasingly being affected by how much money they earn, with lower income groups reporting poorer health and greater use of health services than those with higher incomes." The release also said: 

In describing their health, only 39 per cent of those earning less than $30,000 a year said it was excellent or very good, compared to 68 per cent of those earning $60,000 or more – a gap of 29 percentage points. In 2009, the gap between the two income groups was 17 points. 

The findings come from an Ipsos Reid survey carried out for the Canadian Medical Association as it prepared its 2012 National Report Card on Canadian health care. 

"When it comes to the well-being of Canadians, the old saying that wealth equals health continues to ring true," said Dr. John Haggie, president of the CMA. "What is particularly worrisome for Canada's doctors is that in a nation as prosperous as Canada, the gap between the 'haves' and 'have nots' appears to be widening."