The Importance Of Universal Healthcare In Canada

Since 1984, Canada has established a publicly funded healthcare system through the provisions of the “Canada Health Act,” which states that the objective of Canadian health care policy is to “facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers” (“Canada Health Act” 1). However, many Canadians feel Canada’s healthcare system is financially restricting. This system does not cover many prescription drugs or speciality drugs, which are needed for 41% of Canadian citizens aged 6-79 years old (Rotterman, Michelle et al. 1). This excludes elderly citizens who require even more medications. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information it is estimated the provincial and territorial governments spent $10.4 billion on prescription medications in 2014 (Matteo, Livio Di 2).

In 1967, Tommy Douglas had a great impact in establishing Canada’s universal health care system which guarantees health care to its residents regardless of factors such as race or ethnicity, religion, income, and age (Tommy Douglas: The Father of Medicare, n.d., para.1). In the 1974 Lalonde Report it emphasizes that health services were only one of the many factors that affect health (A New Perspective On the Health of Canadians, 1974). Others factors which include income, food security, the level of education, shelter, status of health, social status, employment and working conditions, and living conditions also contribute to the status of ones’ health. These factors are known as the social determinants of health or one’s socio-economic status that provide an insight to the health of Canadians.

Canada’s healthcare system started in 1946 and is made up of a group of socialized health insurance plans that provides coverage to all Canadian citizens. It is publicly funded and administered on a provincial or territorial basis with in the rules set by their federal government. Since the late 1960’s Canada essential has had a universal health insurance system covering all services provided by physicians and hospitals. In 1966 Lester B Pearson’s government subsequently expanded a policy of the universal healthcare with the medical care act. Canada’s healthcare system is the subject of political controversy and debate in the country. While healthcare in America began in the late 1800’s but was truly born in 1929 when Justin Kimball

Canada’s system is another great example of the affordability of UHC. According to the World Health Organization, check-ups, medications and surgeries are thirty to sixty percent cheaper in Canada than in the U.S. (Merino 132). Why? Well, Diane Francis, author of the National Post article “LBJ Invented Canada’s Superior Health System”, offers one explanation. Francis argues that in Canada drugs are cheaper because Canadian provinces buy the drugs in bulk through a centralized system, unlike the U.S., which makes the government programs Medicare and Medicaid buy from different sources (Merino 132). Because of the monopoly the Canadian government has on the pharmaceutical industry, the price of drugs can be manipulated by the government, making

The current system is inefficient, inequitable and unsustainable in the long run because: (1) it is unable to accommodate for the entire Canadian population; (2) it requires Canadians to pay a disproportionate amount of their income to access medications; and (3) governments are unable to contain the drug cost increases (5). Therefore two recommended reforms are described in order to achieve the goal of accessibility and equity.

This paper will discuss the Canadian healthcare system compared to the United States healthcare system. Although they’re close in proximity, these two nations have very different health care systems. Each healthcare system has its own difficulties, and is currently trying to find ways to improve. Canada currently uses the Universal Health Care system; which provides healthcare coverage to all Canadian citizens (Canadian Health Care, 2007). The services are executed on both a territorial and provincial basis, by staying within the guidelines that have been enforced by the federal government (Canadian Health Care, 2007).

Canada is uniquely known for having a universal healthcare system that is publicly funded and administered on a provincial and territorial basis and is monitored by federal standards. (“Canada Health Act Annual Report,” 2013) The Canada Health Act sets out criteria and that the provinces must must follow in order to receive their federal transfer payments as stated in the Hospital and Diagnostic Services Act of 1957. Public Administration requires provincial and territorial health insurance plans to be run on a non profit basis and by a public agency, in other words, a single payer. Comprehensiveness states that all medically necessary services will be covered by public health insurance. Universality means that all Canadians

Most Canadians are very proud of their health care because it provides citizens universal coverage on the basis of need. However, in the recent decade, Canadians have observed obvious deterioration in the quality of the system in regards to waiting times, availability of the best technology, and adequate numbers of doctors and nurses. The apparent decline within the system has made many Canadians more open to a variety of options than they were a decade ago, provided that the core elements of the system are preserved and that these changes lead to tangible improvements in quality without damaging accessibility. In the article Canadians’ Thoughts on Their Health Care System: Preserving the Canadian Model through Innovation by Matthew Mendelsohn, he stated that 1/3 of Canadians support the two-tiered healthcare system, which offers its citizens an option of public or private health care. Canada will benefit from a two-tier health care system because it will shorten waiting times, other countries with two-tier healthcare have proven to be successful, will encourage doctors to return and stay in Canada, introduce competition and give citizens freedom to choose.

     In the past, Canada’s government-funded, universally accessible, health care system has been praised and admired both at home and abroad as one of the finest in the world. A great source of pride and comfort for many Canadians is that it is based on five fundamental principles. Principles that are a reflection of the values held by Canadian citizens since the formation of Medicare in 1966. These principles were reinforced in the Canada Health Act, (CHA), of 1984 and state that the Canadian system is universal, accessible, portable, comprehensive and non-profit.

The Canadian healthcare system was first established in the late 1940’s and is made up of socialized health insurance plans that provide coverage to every Canadian citizen. Publicly funded and managed, rules are set forth by the federal government. In the 1960’s, Canada in essence, has had universal healthcare coverage for all services provided by physicians and hospitals. Change your source ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Canada 2014) Whereas, the healthcare system in America originated in the 1800’s, but truly wasn’t established until the late 1920’s. Healthcare in America was initially for teachers for a low cost in Dallas Texas by Justin Kimball. Change you source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/) Healthcare in the United States is mostly privately funded with only a few publicly funded entities such as Medicare and Medicaid. The Canadian and U.S. healthcare system s have been under a lot of scrutiny over the years, being the topic of every political conversation. In this essay, I will write about the main differences between the U.S and Canadian Health-care system, and help shed some light on how each system works. The main points I will be discussing are the wait times to see a primary care physician, the funding of each countries health care system, accessibility to medical care and the quality of care.

Canada’s health care system “can be described as a publicly-funded, privately-provided, universal, comprehensive, affordable, single-payer, provincially administered national health care system” (Bernard, 1992, p.103). Health care in Canada is provincial responsibility, with the Canada Health act being a federal legislation (Bernard, 1992, p. 102). Federal budget cuts, has caused various problems within Medicare such as increased waiting times and lack of new technology. Another problem with Medicare is that The Canada Heath Act does not cover expenditures for prescriptions drugs. All these issue has caused individuals to suggest making Medicare privatized. Although, Canada’s health care system consists of shortcomings, our universal

The wait time in Canada is very long, especially for a specialist that is recommended to see immediately can develop another illness and possibly die before they even had the chance to see what they were diagnosed with. Hospitals in Canada lack employees and are understaffed since they have their nurses work tremendous hours and overwork them since the government has made a “cut-backs to the Health Care System.” Many Americans do not get their needs satisfied when they go in for their checkups simply because they can afford a regular well being medical plan and go for what is only needed, if they have any illnesses or diseases they should know about and do not have any dental insurance. Americans should not be suffering of not having medical care insurance because of their low-incomes, majority of people receive low-incomes because they do not have a college degree or high school degree and most jobs today want people with a college degree or higher. People in the United States were more likely to have diabetes along with asthma than people in Canada. High blood pressure, and arthritis is also more higher in the United States than Canada. Individuals who do not have a high school degree will most likely not go to the dentist, and hospital since they possibly have a regular doctor.Universal coverage has played a very important role in

Canada 's health care system is a group of socialized health insurance plans that provides coverage to all Canadian citizens. It is publicly funded and administered on a provincial or territorial basis, within guidelines set by the federal government. Under the health care system, individual citizens are provided preventative care and medical treatments from primary care physicians as well as access to hospitals, dental surgery and additional medical services. With a few exceptions, all citizens qualify for health coverage regardless of medical history, personal income, or standard of living. In addition to public health care providers such as primary care doctors and hospitals, many private clinics offering specialized services also operate in Canada.

Furthermore, due to my geographical location near a Canadian city, I am able to consistently receive quality, affordable healthcare. Living near a major city assures that I likely would not have to travel a great distance for treatment, while living in Canada allows me to access publically funded healthcare to avoid significant personal debt were I to require medical treatment. Women in other locations do not always have such a privilege.

While many may argue that the Canadian health care system provides equal treatment to every Canadian, evidence shows that this is not the case. There are major discrepancies within the system regarding Indigenous people that need to be addressed including several factors such as: housing issues, stereotypes Aboriginals face and the lack of Aboriginal doctors.