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Bill: Health Reform Act
Details
Submitted by[?]: Labour Party
Status[?]: passed
Votes: This is an ordinary bill. It requires more yes votes than no votes. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.
Voting deadline: November 2598
Description[?]:
| A bill to improve the quality of health care our citizens receive. |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change Health care policy.
Old value:: Health care is private, but is paid for by the state for people with low incomes.
Current: There is a public health care system, but private clinics are allowed.
Proposed: There is a public health care system, but private clinics are allowed.
Article 2
Proposal[?] to change Government policy towards smoking.
Old value:: Smoking is legal everywhere, at the discretion of the property owner. However, service/employer property owners that allow smoking must provide a separate non-smoking section.
Current: Smoking is legal outdoors and in private homes and clubs, but illegal indoors in all places of employment.
Proposed: Smoking is legal outdoors and in private homes and clubs, but illegal indoors in all places of employment.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 23:50:26, June 26, 2008 CET | From | Labour Party | To | Debating the Health Reform Act |
| Message | We believe these changes will be of huge benefit to all Rutanians. 1. Free contraceptions will cut down on unwanted pregnancy and therefore abortion. Whilst we disagree with the RDF on abortion law, we do share there desire to see it at the very least drastically reduced - but believe that providing free contraceptives will be a good way of working towards this. People are always going to have sex, and there is nothing we can do to stop that, but if people are protected and provided with the means to be so we can down on abortion, and importantly too, sexually transmitted diseases. 2. We believe a public health care system is a necessity for those who do not wish to go private, and face the possibility that they can not be guaranteed the health care they need - just look at the US for an example of a private system. However, we are prepared to allow a private sector to exist, but merely regulated to ensure standards and patient well-being before profit. As the government we have the duty to ensure the well-being of our people, and regulating medical treatment and healthcare is surely central to the duty of care we should be exercising. 3. We are not illegalising smoking, but because of the evidence that passive smoking causes cancer, we believe it to be wrong that smoking can be allowed indoors in publicly frequented venues such as bars, pubs and restaurants. It is unfortunate, but often non-smoking/smoking divides in restaurants do not stop the spread of the cigarette smoke. We see this as an essential public health step, and one in line with most Western European countries today. |
| Date | 23:53:41, June 26, 2008 CET | From | Labour Party | To | Debating the Health Reform Act |
| Message | We should also add to point three, that we believe it to be wrong for any worker to have to suffer passive smoking in their place of employment, and thus see it as vital to protect the health and well-being, and as a consequence, productiveness, of our work-force. There will be benefits not only to the individual worker, but also to our economy. |
| Date | 00:02:53, June 27, 2008 CET | From | Labour Party | To | Debating the Health Reform Act |
| Message | With regards to point one, we meant to say "cut down on abortion, and improtantly, sexually transmitted diseases too" Apologies!! I don't know what happened to my grammar or sentence structure!! |
| Date | 00:45:51, June 27, 2008 CET | From | Rutanian Democratic Forum | To | Debating the Health Reform Act |
| Message | Ad 1. We don't support this, because we don't think the government should interfere in this area. We would rather see the reform of sexual education, without opt-out option. Ad 2. We could be convinced into this. RDF believes good health care and social care system is essential for the functioning of society, because only healthy people can be truly free citizens and enjoy all of its personal liberties. But, in Rutania we already have an extensive private health care system, and we would rather choose an option: "There is public health system and private clinics" then this one proposed. Ad 3. We support, but we would also rather choose smoking option allowed in bars and restaurants (places that serve liquor). But, if agreement of other parties can be reached, we will vote for this, too. |
| Date | 02:34:39, June 27, 2008 CET | From | Imperium Party | To | Debating the Health Reform Act |
| Message | The IP do not support Article 1. Again we would have to spend money on these free medical supplies in which I believe most Rutanians are properly educated understanding about pregnancy. Article 2 and 3 are alright and the IP will support them.... but not article 1. |
| Date | 03:19:49, June 27, 2008 CET | From | Labour Party | To | Debating the Health Reform Act |
| Message | We are prepared to drop the first article, and perhaps debate it on its merits at a later date in a future act - but leave it for now. With regards to the second proposal, RDF, we would say that we are allowing the existence of private clinics, but merely ensuring their regulation to guarantee standards and the health of citizens. Whilst we do not support private medicine, we are not proposing that it should be scrapped, merely watched more closely to ensure that people always triumph over profit - which given the situation in countries like the USA, which has an extensive network of private hospitals, is a fair concern for any caring and conscientious government. The problem with smoking in bars and places serving liquor is that the staff - who may not, and indeed, probably do not smoke, are subjected to an unacceptable cancer risk. Many people are not lucky enough to be able to pick and choose jobs, and have to take whatever they can get. It is unfair to put such people in a position detrimental to their health which they cannot do anything about. This sort of legislation is infact the norm now in almost all - if not all - of Western Europe. As the bill states, smoking is still allowed in outdoor areas of pubs and establishments serving liquor - merely barred indoors, where the concentration of smoke would take far longer to dissipate and affect many non-smokers. |
| Date | 07:59:37, June 27, 2008 CET | From | Federal Rutanian Libertarian Union | To | Debating the Health Reform Act |
| Message | We dont support this bill at all. |
| Date | 10:00:22, June 27, 2008 CET | From | Rutanian Democratic Forum | To | Debating the Health Reform Act |
| Message | Ad 2. We understand your concern, LP, but we really want not to decrease number of private clinics and regulate them heavily. We must of course mainaint and control health care quality, so therefore we would not accept such kind a proposal, at least for now. Ad 3. We understand also the reasons behind, but there is a reasonable fear of bancruptcy of little bars and restaurants which guests are mainly smokers. But, we are ready to vote for this bill, taking into consideration that "Private clubs" can also include some bars and restaurants. |
| Date | 13:50:47, June 27, 2008 CET | From | Labour Party | To | Debating the Health Reform Act |
| Message | Would the RDF be prepared to accept a compromise on hospitals in which a public and private system could exist side ny side, and we can discuss regulation in the future perhaps in a separate bill? And, yes, private clubs would certainly include some of the establishments you list! On this basis, can we count on the RDF's support for the bill as a whole? |
| Date | 14:08:47, June 27, 2008 CET | From | Rutanian Democratic Forum | To | Debating the Health Reform Act |
| Message | Yes. |
| Date | 17:05:44, June 27, 2008 CET | From | Labour Party | To | Debating the Health Reform Act |
| Message | The changes have been made, and we are ready to start the voting procedure! |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | |||
| yes | Total Seats: 346 | |||
| no | Total Seats: 247 | |||
| abstain |
Total Seats: 6 |
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