The Current Problems With Universal Healthcare In Canada

By Sonya Riley


Canada has scored very well particularly in the basic healthcare system which has seen prevention of costly hospital admissions resulting from chronic conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes and asthma. The survival rate of those diagnosed with breast cancer and other cancers is also higher among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries as revealed by World Health Organization. This in addition to the surveys that put the Canadian satisfaction rate with the public health policy at 85% paints a picture of a highly valued health system. The problems with universal healthcare in Canada are however revealed with many studies done on this system.

These concerns threaten to render this noble course unsustainable if not addressed. The major areas that noted numerous complains include waiting time and insufficient number of healthcare professionals which persist disregarding the prevailing economic conditions of the country.

The Wait Time Challenges. Most of the surveys put this as the number one challenge in the Canadian health system as some surveys reveal that up to 59% of patients wait for a period of more than four weeks before they eventually get appointment with a particular health specialist.

The challenge is particularly worse when it come to diseases that are classified as acute and requires specialized attention. Heart diseases, cancer, joint replacement, sight restoration and diagnostic imaging are some of the areas where Canada scores poorly in terms of waiting period before seeing a doctor.

The shortage of health professionals is also a challenge in health sector. There is evidence of brain drain where some doctors are known to cross borders to the United States where the pay is considered to be slightly better. This contributes to shortage in the number of doctors available to take care of patients particularly those suffering from chronic diseases.

Shortage of Doctors and Other Health Professionals. This is also a major concern as revealed by health surveys in Canada which put it at the second position after the wait time. The problem is largely explained by the immigration of doctors across the border to the United States where the average pay for a doctor is slightly higher than that of Canada. The result is that there are large numbers of patients seeking treatment against few health professionals available in public hospitals.

The other challenges that face the Canadian health system include shortage in bed capacity in many provincial hospitals. Some patients have to seek for alternative means of treatment while others have to be released earlier than their scheduled time because of this issue. This problem is largely attributed to inadequate funding from the public resources.

The Budget Constraints. Some surveys have concluded that Canadian health system is simply unsustainable. This is in reference to the continuous challenges the government is facing in financing the public health system. The impact is the shortages in bed space in hospital wards. The public insurance plan has also been unable to cover most of the supplementary services such as dental care where patients are forced to either use their own finances or opt for private covers including employer-sponsored plans.

Despite all these problems with universal healthcare in Canada, the current data shows a significant improvement particularly in wait time which is the number one concern. Other positive indicators in the Canadian healthcare include high scores in survival rates in breast cancer and other forms of cancers as compared to many other developed economies. The larger majority of Canadian nationals are still in favor of this healthcare system. To them, only the shortcomings should be addressed.




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