Reminder: On election day, make your voice count. #Vote4Arthritis
The general election in Saskatchewan is scheduled for October 28, 2024. Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) is asking Saskatchewan parties and candidates how they, if elected, will improve the timely access to suitable arthritis treatment and care.
The arthritis community is a significant constituency in Saskatchewan.
Arthritis affects more than 200,000 Saskatchewan voters. There are over 100 types of arthritis, and despite the misconception that it is only a disease of older adults, two-thirds of Saskatchewan residents with arthritis are younger than 65. It is the leading cause of disability in Saskatchewan. and a significant economic burden related to direct health care costs and indirect costs to the economy related to lost employment, sick leave, and absenteeism.
Health care delivery is one of the most important issues for Saskatchewan voters. The way people living with arthritis access and receive health care varies significantly across the province. Where you live can be more important in determining arthritis treatment than how sick or disabled you are. A major barrier is access to care, including the wait times for people with inflammatory arthritis for a first rheumatologist visit, particularly in rural areas of Saskatchewan. This particularly affects people living with inflammatory arthritis – like rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis or lupus – who depend on getting a timely and accurate diagnosis, fast access to rheumatologists, and appropriate public reimbursement for needed disease-modifying medications.
The time to arthritis prevention, treatment, and care is now after years of being at the back of the line of health care planning and delivery in Saskatchewan.
That’s why it is important for you as a Saskatchewan voter to make your voice heard. To help you with your decision, Arthritis Consumer Experts is asking political parties and the candidates running for office to share their perspectives on how to meet the needs of the one in five Saskatchewan residents living with arthritis.
We have collected candidate and party responses and posted them on ACE’s Saskatchewan Election 2024 homepage to help people living with arthritis make an informed vote.
On October 28, 2024, make your voice count: #Vote4Arthritis. For more information on how to vote, please visit Elections Saskatchewan.