Canadian Public Funded Health Care System
Introduction
The provision of a sufficient health care system is a fundamental basic need for human survival. Canada’s publicly funded health care system has flourished over the past decades. It has dramatically reformed due to effective policies and trained personnel that work at the health care facilities. The public-funded systems work with a vision of providing excellent health rather than focusing on the ability to pay. The different provinces and the federal government in Canada are in charge of organizing and delivering health care services to the general public. The federal government sets standards and provides funding for the publicly funded health care systems. Health care in Canada is a local affair, and the federal government ensures that its citizens can get sufficient health care through the primarily funded health systems. From a sociological and political perspective, the publicly funded health care system in Canada has been depreciating and facing challenges due to poor policies implementation by the federal government. As a result, there have been poor services implementation, lack of innovation and coordination, increased cost of health services, poor services offered towards the aboriginal population, and increased demand for attention by patients suffering from chronic diseases. As a result, possible recommendations and solutions are also highlighted in a plight to solve the challenges faced.
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Background
History on the evolution of the Health care system
During the establishments of the territorial government, the constitution Act of 1867 was passed. It was responsible for managing and establishing hospitals within the different provinces and territories in the region. The federal government had the mandate and power of collecting taxes and spending the finances raised towards the provincial health responsivities on condition that it did not infringe the constitutional powers. In the early 19th century, the health care system in Canada was privately funded. However, in 1947, a universal healthcare plan was introduced, and the Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act approved ten years later (Fine 40). The act offered a reimbursed care plan with the territorial health care in the provinces.
As of 1961, all provinces had signed up for the provision of publicly funded health care and diagnostic services in Canada (Conrad and Chris 550). In 1984, the Canada Health Act approved that led to the integration of health care principles on comprehensiveness. The Act provisions ensure that unrealistic and extra billings for the insured health services were prohibited (Stuart and Jill p.100). Later in the 20th century, several other health cares acts came into action that reformed on the structural changes to the health care system in Canada. The Acts were in line with the change in technology, health care needs, and increase in provision for the comprehensive coverage of home care services, drugs, and medical equipment.
Governments role in the provision of the health care system
Canada’s health care services and arrangements are under the federal government, which then narrows to the provinces and territories. The Federal government is in charge of disbursing finances, setting policies, and provision of health care services and equipment to the health centers. Studies show that the provinces and territories act following the Health Act established n 1985, which is in charge of setting the medical standards and physician services (Detsky p.804: Suter, Esther, et al. p.16). The act affirms to the health care principles, which includes:
- Accessibility: all insured citizens should have equal access to covered health services that are not liable to financial barriers.
- Portability: Provincial residents should be uniformly covered even when they are temporarily absent from their territories or province where they reside.
- Public Administration: Provision of health care on a nonprofit basis within the provincial and territorial plans.
- Universality: Equal and uniform access to health care and health insurance services
Following the Federal government policies, health centers can only receive funding if the insurance plans are publicly administered and offer comprehensive coverage. Further, the federal government is in charge of ensuring the safety of practitioners, the provision of medical devices, health products, and pharmaceuticals (Wilson and Mark p.130). The federal government also offers finances through the Canada Health Transfer to support the health care systems.
Provincial and territorial governments
Once the federal government formulates policies, the provincial governments are in the care of the implementation of policies and accountability of funds disbursed. They are in charge of the provision of health care services within the territorial setups. National health insurance helps to cover the medical plans within the territories which the government settles on a pre-paid basis (Lomas p.371). They also offer supplementary services such as ambulance costs, dental care, provision of prescribed drugs outside the hospital that may not be provided by the federal governed, especially among the low-income residents (Hutchison et al. 270). It also stated that the provinces also provide compensation agency which is in charge of funding of the health workers in case they get injured while on the job. It helps to protect the interests of the health workers while on the job.
Health care eligibility
The Canadian health care system is free to all its citizens. The public taxes and funds finances the system which is then channeled back to the health care system. Canada’s health care system is categorized to be among the best in the world with high stakes on quality standards. Studies show that, the citizens are eligible for free midwifery services, rehabilitation services, pediatrics service surgeries. However, only Canadians and the residents are eligible for the provision of the public fund health care system. Tourists and visitors have to pay for the services out of their own pockets to cater to the medical services (Lu and Edward p.30). In other states like Ontario, one is eligible to be categorized as a resident if their stay at the province for more than 153 days. Therefore, residents are free to choose their primary caregivers and the bills forwarded to the government for funding. Few services such as cosmetic surgeries privately offered as they operate on a for-profit basis by the health centers. Canadian municipalities are free to provide health programs and campaigns such as vaccination services, safe drug use, children reaction programs, and breastfeeding centers. Different municipalities may offer various functions depending on the population and needs of the residences.
Challenges of the Canadian Health system
As earlier analyzed, the Canadian health care system has been in operation for approximately 50 years, and often categorized as Canadian pride. The country offers a sustainable health care system, which is far better than what is provided in the U. S. Residents enjoy the free medical cover, which is funded publicly through taxes. Despite being highly regarded, the Canadian health system faces several challenges with cost issues being a key factor. Further, with the growth of technology in the health landscape, several changes are continually being introduced to the health department, which has lagged the growth of the health care system.
Long wait times
The commonwealth fund has, on several occasions, questioned on the Canadian health care system due to the poor ranking with tin the non-partisan organization despite it offering public funding for its citizens. Research shows that gaining access to health care for non-urgent matters in health centers is challenging for most Canadians. Urgent health issues such as heart attacks, cancer care, stroke, among others, are efficiently attended to (Santibáñez et al. p.392). However, patients suffering from less chronic illness sometimes wait for as long as a year before they get an appointment or treatment plan. It has become almost impossible for a patient to access the same day or even the next day’s medical appointments (Muscedere et al., p. 285). The long wait has mainly affected patients who seek home care services as they wait for such services stretch to even months long. When one gets lucky and accesses the home care services, the hours are limited (Barua p.15). Most patients, therefore, choose to stay in hospital to be frequently attended to, which then creates a scarce on beds due to inadequate numbers on discharged patients. The long waits affect patients on emergency services and elective surgeries as they have to wait for days for admission.
The graph shown below shows different countries performance on their health care system
Retrieved from: http://theconversation.com/how-healthy-is-the-canadian-health-care-system-82674
Increased chronic diseases
There has been increased adaptation to technology as well as the increased population as compared to the 19th century. The health care needs for the people have changed, but the Canadian health system not changed (Detsky p. 804). Therefore, the medical attendants are caught up in the reality of trying to catch up with the 21st-century changes. In the 19th century, the health systems were equipped with the provision of care for acute diseases. However, with the change in lifestyle and health needs, the health systems have become a landscape for the provision of health needs on chronic diseases such as cancer, heart failures, diabetes, lung diseases, among others (Wilson p. 138). Therefore, health practitioners have ended up over-focusing on these conditions and neglecting other patients who need the attention of the health care personnel (Muscedere p.297). Therefore, there is a need for hospitals to come up with community-based solutions since most of these chronic diseases are expensive to attend and may take a long time to control them (O’Keefe-Markman p.77). Therefore, experts suggest that chronic diseases can be accompanied by community venues and homes to decongest the homes.
Cash Contributions
Since the late 1970s, the federal government has been subsequently reducing ion their cash contributions once the territories and provinces took upon the taxes (Detsky, 805). Therefore, with a decreased projection on financial contribution, it is feared that the government may not be able to achieve national health care standards, thus losing the ability to enforce the Canadian Health Act (Skinner and Rovere p. 2). Further, with lees reviews made towards the health Act, the health budgets given may not be sustainable towards provisions of public health care, leading to increased cost on universal hospital insurance. In 1975, health care accounted for approximately 7% of the countries GDP, while in 2016, it accounted for about 12% of the GDP (Detsky 805). Therefore, the total expenditure per citizen is high, which affects the cost in the provision of health care as most centers are cash strained to cater for medical services.
Aboriginals health care challenges
Despite the Canadian federal government focusing on the provision of universal health care, the Aboriginal population face stigmization in the provision of health care (Kulig p.29). Most of the Aboriginals population live in isolation, which has made it difficult for a large number of the community to access adequate medical care (Tang and Annette p.125). The aboriginals have ended up being vulnerable to specific diseases leading to an increased mortality rate of the population (Tang and Annette p.125). The government needs to seek for logistical implementation for the community to access adequate health care when while living in isolation.
The narrow scope of services
Most of the health care centers offer a narrow range of services which are covered by the comprehensive provincial insurance plans (Lomas p.375). Other medical services such as dental care, physiotherapy, long term care among other home care services are now offered by private insurance centers and settled through the out-of-pocket payments which may not be easily accessible for the low-income earners in Canada
Solution and recommendations
Increased innovation
There is a need to integrate the systems with modern technology and methods to reach out to the needs and demands of the present population (Ludwick p. 23: Rachlis, and Marla p. 100). It would modify the communication channels, doctors’ monitoring of patients even from homes and record-keeping systems (Lewis p.929: Ludwick and John p.31). The integration of the system is less expensive and more effective, therefore improving service provision.
Leadership
The federal government needs to revise o their policies on contribution and health taxation to balance out on the costs of the health care provisions (Best et al. p.425). The increased cost would be catered for, and the population would be able to enjoy modern systems of health care equipment and operation at the health centers. Further, the revised policies would play a significant role in bridging the gap between private plans and public services health centers
Prioritizing on indigenous health
Despite the Aboriginals populations living in isolation, the government may seek to measure whereby they may offer mobile health services in the remote areas (Ford p.668). Better systems may be implemented, and regular medical checkups on the population achieved.
Conclusion
The Canadian public health system has been described as one of the most favorable methods for the general public. Through the federal government law enactment and the support of the provinces and territories, residents can enjoy free medical care, which is funded by the government through taxation. Despite the model being favorable for a percentage of the population, the system still faces a few challenges, especially win the 21st century due to changes in technology and demands for society. The government should revise some of its policies and integrate it on a modern system to tackle the issues being experienced with the publicly funded health care system in the country.
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