Overview of the Canadian Health Care System OU Pre-med Club/AMSA October 25, 2006
United States WHO Ranking for Health Attainment: 24 WHO Overall Ranking: 37 % GDP spent on health care: 15%
United States: Organization
United States: Quality, Choice & Access Quality ◊Depends on health care plan ◊Often gaps for prescription drugs, dental & vision Choice ◊Restricted choice of providers Access ◊Waiting lines are relatively rare ◊Large percentage of the population is uninsured
United States: Problems 45 million uninsured Skyrocketing health care costs Significant health disparities by race and income
Canada World Health Organization Ranking for Health Attainment: 12 World Health Organization Overall Ranking: 30 Percent of GDP spent on health care: 9.9%
Canada: Organization Single-payer system Canada Health Act of 1984 13 provincial/territorial governments administer health care plan Federal government regulates the provincial/territorial health care plans by offering "transfer payments" contingent upon certain criteria Federal Government 10 Provinces Provincial Health Care Plan 3 Territories Territorial Health Care Plan
Canada: Organization Canada Health Act of 1984 UniversalityAccessibility Public Administration PortabilityComprehensive
Canada: Organization Providers are mostly private Hospitals mostly public Most Canadians have complementary private health insurance for services that are not covered by the government plan ◊Prescription drugs ◊Long-term care
Canada: Quality, Choice, Access Quality ◊Coverage for "medically necessary" services ◊Gaps for dental care, long-term care & prescription drugs Choice ◊Free to choose general practitioner and hospital Access ◊No waiting lists for general practitioner visits or emergencies ◊Waiting times for certain elective procedures
Canada: Problems/Reforms Underfunding Gaps in coverage Tension between provincial and central governments