Origins of Canada's medicare system celebrated in Swift Current

The origins of Canada's medicare system were celebrated in Swift Current thanks to the efforts of a local history buff who noted July 1 was the70th anniversary of Health Care Region No.1 in Saskatchewan.

"[The history is] very much overlooked," Rob Nisbet saidfollowing a presentation that took place Thursday in the boardroom of the current health region. "The region started in '46."

Nisbet, 82, spent several weeks gathering pictures of the original 10 board members of the Swift Current Health Region. With help from the local history museum, the pictures were assembled to show those board members together.

A group of men set something up for the good of the whole country.- Rob Nisbet

On hand for Thursday's presentation were some family members of the original board members.

Nisbet, who farms north of Swift Current near Success, Sask., noted the health region began in 1946 after local voters had approved the plan the previous fall. His research found 71 per cent were in favour of an additional tax to cover medical fees submitted by doctors in the area who provided care.

"These people, what they did went all across Canada and affects Canadians daily," he said. "They should be celebrated."

Polio treatment covered

Nisbet recounted how, in 1948, he and his brother were treated for polio and recalled that he wondered, at the time, how the family could afford such medical attention.

"It wasn't until years later that I found the reason: It was Health Care Region No.1," he said. "There's an awful lot of people around here who would have gone bankrupt without this."

The first board was formed under provincial legislation that had been enacted allowing local municipalities to create an agency to provide for payment of medical bills.

"We don't celebrate our actual heroes," Nisbet said of the original 10 board members. "A group of men set something up for the good of the whole country. That's why I call them heroes."

Much of Nisbet's information about the origins of the health plan came from family members of the original board members who shared information, notes and stories recalling how the system worked.

Doctor bills scrutinized closely

Nisbet learned, from the son of the secretary to the board, that the health region was very careful when it came to reviewing and paying bills.

"They went through everything with a fine-tooth comb," he said.

The original region included board members from Swift Current, Frontier, Eastend, Leader, Neville and Cabri,Sask.

Over the years, two plaques were created which made note of the original board. However, those ended up in storage.

"The plaques had been gathering dust," Nisbet said, adding he understands the local museum is preparing an exhibit recounting the history for this September.

He's hoping the plaques will be displayed prominently to remind people of the historic first efforts that took place to establish Canada's medicare system.