Canada's Healthcare System - Essay Example

?Canada's Healthcare System The provision of adequate and quality healthcare to its people is a core function of every government and the Canadian government can be highly commended for this. In Canada, healthcare is delivered through a healthcare system that is publicly funded with private entities providing most services. This health care is mostly free at the point of use and the government allocates a considerable amounts of money for the provision of healthcare to ensure availability of affordable health care for all. A larger portion of this portion goes to hospitals and this is followed by pharmaceuticals and physicians. Many Canadians support the provision of health care through the current public health system as compared to for profit-private basis. The progress to free healthcare in the Canadian health system has had a long history. During the 18th century, hospitals were places where the poor were cared for while others were cared for at home. Support came from charitable organizations, municipal councils and religious denominations. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, there was increasing need for the provision of public health services by the government but none of the advocacies achieved much due to limitation of funds. However, in 1946, there came forth some breakthrough. During this year, 1946, the first Canadian province, Sasketchewan, introduced to its residents a near universal health coverage. The province had suffered shortage of doctors for long and this prompted the development of municipal doctor programs in the early 20th century. Under these programs, a town would subsidize a medical doctor for them to practice there. One of the prominent person behind this was Tommy Doughlas, leader of the Saskatchewan Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). In 1946, his government passed the Saskatchewan Hospitalization Act through which free hospital care was guaranteed for much of the population. The provision of universal healthcare was not possible due to limited funds. In 1950, the province of Alberta developed a program similar to that of Saskatchewan. In 1957, the Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services (HIDS) Act was passed by the Diefenbaker federal government to fund 50% of the cost of such programs for every provincial government that adopted them (Turner 769). In 1961, all the provinces of Canada agreed to establish HIDS programs. For Saskatchewan, the Act meant that the federal government will pay for half their current programs. Woodraw Lloyd, Douglas’ successor, decided to use the freed cash to extend health coverage program to include physicians. Lloyd introduced the law in 1962, despite disagreement with the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons. Lloyd’s ides proved to be successful and Lester Person’s federal government decided to introduce the Medical Care Act in 1966 as an adoption to Lloyd’s ideas. Pearson was the Canadian Prime Minister. The Canada Health Act was passed in 1984 to prohibit extra billing by doctors and use fees. In 1999, in the Social Union Framework Agreement, Pearson and most premiers reaffirmed their commitment to providing healthcare that has universal, accessible, comprehensive, portable, and with public administration. Currently, Canadian health care is paid for through sales tax and income taxes. The government pays out money meant to cover healthcare to hospitals, pharmaceuticals and physicians and therefore, all the citizens are covered. They can see any doctor anywhere within the country. Some of the things that are not covered for are dentistry, optometry and outpatient drug prescriptions. Despite its attractiveness, the Canadian health system has received a lot of criticism and even condemnation. One of its negative aspect that has been strongly pointed out is the long wait lines. Some of the patients report experiences of long wait lines with a few giving opposing views. This is coupled with stories of some patients dying because of having to wait for long before seeing a physician/receiving medical services and citizens having to travel to the US to seek for medical care (Sarah 1). In response to the problem of long wait lines, the Canadian government increased it funding to most troublesome areas like joint replacement surgery, cardiac care and cancer care. But this does not mean the frustrations arising from long waiting lines is over. The average wait time for seeing a physician is 4 weeks with 89.5% waiting for less than 90 days. Some US critics term the Canadian health care system as socialised medicine. however, its true face reveals that it is more like socialized insurance. This is mainly because in the system, risks are pooled together. The system is a group of insurance plans that are socialized that provide coverage for all Canadians. Universal coverage is paid for by tax dollars, delivery of health care is private and physicians bill the federal government for their services (Koury 72). As for the services that are not covered for by the government, many citizens have health insurance to cover for these although some pay for them out of their pockets. However, insurance is not the same throughout the country. Health insurance varies in the territories and providences because the federal government has no direct responsibility in the delivery of medicine in its territories and provinces. Because of this, each one of them has its own independent program for public health insurance and this is regulated by provincial government. Private health insurance is also available in Canada and it addresses medical services that are not covered under the health insurance plan available in one’s territory or province. It is therefore useful in dealing with variations in the existing public health insurance. Conclusion The Canadian health care system is commendable and the Canadian government deserves credit for its. Its citizens receive free and/or affordable health care services which are paid for by trade and income taxes. There are also public health insurance plans that help citizens to cover for medical services that are not provided within the framework of free medical services. Despite its attractiveness, there are some issues with the Canadian healthcare system that cannot be ignored. One of them is the long wait lines where by patients have to wait for long before seeing a physician and this has resulted to the death of some patients or seeking for medical attention in the US among those who can afford. With the increased costs of living and increasing population, this issue is a red light signal to the Canadians and their government that some quality reforms are required to avert the occurrence or worsening of this situation in the near future. Works Cited Koury Conni. (2010). “The Canadian Health Care System: Socialized Insurance, Not Socialized Medicine.”Cataract And Refractive Surgery Today. Online: http://e-ditionsbyfry.com/Olive/ODE/CRST/default.aspx?href=CRST%2F2010%2F01%2F01&pageno=74&entity=Ar07400&view=entity. Retrieved on 15th November, 2011. Sarah Varney. (2009). “Does Canada's Health Care System Need Fixing?” Online: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111721651. Retrieved on 15th November, 2011. Turner Gilbert. (1958). "The Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act: Its Impact on Hospital Administration". Canadian Medical Association Journal (10) pp 768–670. Read More