Introduction
Canada’s health care sector has received immense support from the government, but there are still notable challenges. Health care is one of the pillars of development, and Canada has devoted a high percentage of its GDP to this sector. Canada is one of the most industrialized members of the organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD). From the beginning, Canada’s health care sector has always been sustained by the public. This has, however, raised debates, and several reforms have been proposed opposing the way the sector should be financed and delivered. Those who are right say that the health care costs have significantly increased and that reforms that allow privatization of the sector so that people pay for their care are needed. However, on the other side, some oppose that saying that Canada can sustain its health sector just as they have done been before. In this paper, I am going to compare the health care sector of Canada and a highly industrialized country like the united states. These two countries provide a better comparison because they border each other, share almost the same cultures, and have the same economic structure.
The united states is one of the members of the OECD, just like Canada. Despite the two being highly industrialized, there are a lot of differences that exist in their health care sectors.
The two countries differ in the cost of health care providers to their citizens, individual access, and the quality of care available. While the difference mainly lies in their health care structures, the two North American countries have key distinctions in the health care sector—each one of them is superior in their areas. I am going to compare the financing and the range and delivery of services in the two countries.
Health care financing in the united states and Canada.
Canada has a national health insurance program that covers the general population of Canada. The program offers a package of medicals benefits to its citizens. It is financed through a single-payer. This means that the federal government uses its general taxes to fund the insurances. Only a third-party pays the medical practitioners for their services. The physicians are paid at a negotiable fee, and they are not allowed to receive extra payments from their clients. This is a method that the government uses to limit recurrent expenditure on the health care system. Hospitals usually receive a global budget pay from the government. What the Canadian government does is that it provides funding to all the provinces as long as they abide by the Canadian health care act. These monies are then used to provide health insurance to all Canadian citizens through the national health care system.
In Canada, the patient is not involved in the reimbursement of the health providers. The negotiations are usually between the health care providers and the government. There is no monetary exchange between the patient and the physician. Every province has a ministry of health that controls the global budget of the hospital and the specific fee to be paid to the health provider. The health provider’s charge is determined by indirect negotiations between the provincial health organizations and the ministry of health. The total expenditure of the hospital is established, and they receive funding from the provincial ministry of health. The federal government usually provides financing to all the ten provinces in Canada.
Unlike Canada, the united states health care system is financed through a wide payer. It does not have a single national health insurance system. Health insurances are provided either by private commercials or by the government to specific groups. 86% of the general population has health insurance, with 26% from the government and 70% from private commercials. A more significant percentage of those who are insured are usually related to their employment. This is because employers help employees in saving. It is easier for an employer to sponsor a health care plan, unlike the individual purchase of an insurance policy. About 16% of the population is uninsured. This, however, does not mean that they do not receive health care. Most of the uninsured citizens receive care from local state programs, public clinics, and private organizations which are financed through charity. These private centers shift pay to other people. Uninsured citizens, however, face a lot of financial hardships and insecurities. One could find themselves in an emergency room with no much proper medical treatment to save them.
In general, in the United States, an individual pays for their health care services. You are only exempted if you are lucky to receive government insurance, which in most cases, is meant for people with guaranteed income, age, and specific disabilities. Employment can also provide health insurance though not always. It varies from employer to employer, and it is not still a guarantee that you will get coverage.
Unlike Canada, who are single-payer, the united states has multiple systems of reimbursing their health care providers. The third-party ranges from either the federal government or the different health insurance companies. The health care providers are usually paid in terms of fee for service. This means that you pay for the services provided. Although there is an increasing adaption of prepaying, most services are still being paid In terms of fee for service. Those physicians working in government facilities are paid in the form of payment for service, although the service is usually fixed. When you compare the physician’s pay in the united states and Canada, the average salary in Canada is low. Physicians in the united states prefer working for private-for-profit hospitals that have a higher salary.
Range and delivery of services in the United States and Canada
In an attempt to control the general expenditure in healthcare, Canada has regionalized high tech services. The government plays a significant role in the decision pertaining to the allocation of resources. They also decide on the capital to be spent on hospitals, distribution of specialized physicians, assignment of the newly graduated health providers, and the general distribution of the high tech medical equipment. In Canada, one in a thousand patients who require diagnostic imaging can only gain access to the high tech medical equipment. People have to wait for days to get diagnostic imaging services. Specialized treatments like that of organ transplant and heart surgeries are regulated.
The latest studies show that there are deficits in different areas of the Canadian health sector. deficits have been noted in the cardiac catheterization unit and the intensive care unit. if, for instance, you require diagnostic imaging, you will have to wait for approximately more than 13 weeks to be attended. This is considered clinically unacceptable because it could worsen a patient’s condition. Some conditions require immediate care, and delaying care could lead to complications. Canadian citizens are known to go to the united states to seek care so that they do not delay treatment.
The Canadian waiting list is, however, very long, you will have to wait for days before you are attended. Such conditions affect vulnerable groups of people like the old or people with terminal illnesses who require urgent and specialized care.
In general, the fact that the government finances the Canadian health care sector limits health care coverage. Some of the services are not being provided because of limited resources. People are forced to use other means of payment to receive specialized treatment. Primary care, on the other hand, is limited. Most of the health care providers in Canada are general practitioners. They then refer their patients to specialized physicians. Citizens have a right to choose whichever primary doctor they want. They then pay the fees based on the fixed rates provided by the provincial government. There is, however, inequality in resource allocation among the different resources. The Canadian federal government often has to decide on the provinces to allocate resources. The citizens in the underprivileged provinces do not receive quality care. This greatly affects the health care delivery system in Canada.
Unlike Canadians, the united states, the health care sector has advanced medical technology. Older adults above 80 years and premature infants, for instance, are most likely to survive in the united states. the life expectancy age in the united states is eighty years.The advanced technology helps in managing the health sector and improving the health status of the general population. The United States is also known as the world’s top in pharmaceuticals innovations. Such products are known to improve the quality of life. The health care coverage in the country is also dependent on private insurance benefits.the benefits are usually negotiated between the employer and the private sectors. they depend on what the customer can afford.
With the introduction of the patient protection and affordable care act (ACA) in 2010, it has now become necessary that all insurances in the united states cover essential health care. This includes maternity and newborn care services, emergency services, pediatric services, preventive services, and several others. This has made access to care easier for those with either private or government insurances. Uninsured citizens, however, still have a challenge in accessing quality health care services.
One-third of the physicians of the united state are the primary care providers. They, however, do not have a mandate to of referring patients for specialized treatment. The general practitioners are not allowed to refer patients for specialized treatment. Although patients have a right to choose their primary care doctor, they should do so considering one that is in good terms their private insurers. Fees to be Paid are negotiated between the private insurance and the physician for those who are insured. Uninsured clients, however, pay in terms of fee for service.
Changes to be made on the health care system of Canada
The health care system is a very dynamic sector in any country. Just like the financial wages that the Canadian government is offering for campaigns, it should also do the same for the health care sector. for this sector to improve and provide quality services to its citizens, the government should focus the primary care. A strongly founded health care system results in the best health care system. With the changing trends in health, there has been an increase in the aging population, increased chronic illnesses over the past few years. Canada should there focus on improving primary care to deal with such trends. They can do so by initiating programs that provide primary care, preventive measures for illnesses, treatment of chronic illnesses, and finally, promote health. Canadian citizens should be able to access a family doctor.
It is not always about the availability of care; the care provided should be based on the population model. Doctors should be able to treat the community. This type of care should focus on vulnerable groups. These groups include the mentally ill, the homeless, and the older adults.inorder to achieve this kind of a population-based model of primary care, a lot of things must be done. Planning and coordination must be involved, but it is doable. Other communities in Canada have already tried that and had worked. Countries such as the united kingdom have also incorporated their population model in primary care, and it has been successful. This should be an easy thing for Canada. There are no known barriers to it, yet this makes it easier for Canada to consider a population-based type of primary care.
The Canadian government should also consider the diversification of the electronic health care system. It is ot always enough to have a family doctor; patients should be able to access health services on time.the health care system of Canada is known to have a long waiting list that takes over 13 weeks for a patient to get the medical service. The federal government should strive to ensure that it reduces the waiting time. Waiting time can be reduced by employing more health providers, purchasing more medical equipment, increasing the capacity of health centers, and expanding community care programs.
Waiting time in Canada can be reduced if the government strategizes. It may be difficult for the country to employ more physicians because of the increasing cost of care, but they can employ other alternative methods. One thing that they can do is use virtual consultations. Not all patients need to see a specialized doctor. They should come up with programs in which the patient can communicate with the doctor through the phone at a specific time. Another solution is that there should be assessments before they meet a specialized doctor. This means that between referrals and a specialized physician, there should be an assessment to determine whether the patient qualifies to be seen by the physician or can be seen but just any other general practitioner.
Waiting lists can also be reduced by reducing paperwork referrals. Adapting electronic referrals minimizes time wastages. Another important method that Canada my adapt is switching to centralized intake. This is whereby the family doctor assesses the patient then refers them to a specialist or any other available health provider. This method has been known to minimize waiting lists greatly. What I am trying to put across id that Canada can reduce waiting time if it wants to. There are several ways that they can adopt to minimize them.
Another change that should happen in the Canadian health sector is that there should be equity in resource allocation. Since the government is the one that finances the health sector, it is also known for making decisions on the distribution of resources. Resources should be equally allocated across the ten provinces in Canada. This will improve health care delivery across the regions and reduces waiting. This can happen in Canada; the government should ensure that every region has high technology pieces of equipment. Quality care should be provided to its citizens. By quality, we mean that the care should be timely, patient-centered, safe, efficient, and effective. It is possible to incorporate quality care in the Canadian health sector.
What is evident with the Canadian health care system is that once the government provides care for its citizens, expenditure and demand increases. A lot of costs is incurred for products and services that have zero price. The Canadian government is now working on a list to reduce those services that are termed as necessary. Aside from that,
every that requires specialized care comes with a cost. The Canadian government should consider providing free care to specific extends. Specialized care patients should, therefore, seek alternative methods of payment. This will reduce the increased cost of care in Canada, and it enables the provision of essential care services. Resources that could be spent on specialized treatments can be channeled to the provision of essential care. This is something that the Canadian government can work on and be successful in it.
Conclusion
Inconclusion, despite Canada and the united states of America having the same culture, language, economic structure, and sharing a long border, differences exist in their health sector. There is a disparity in funding and deliverance of care in these two North American countries. Although the united states is known for its high tech pieces of equipment and top n pharmaceuticals innovation, its citizens are not satisfied with the health care delivery. There are a lot of drawbacks that exist in the system. Canada, on the other hand, considers itself better than the United States in health care delivery, but it too has some negatives. A number of changes need to be made to the health care system of Canada to ensure quality care is delivered to its citizens.
Some of the challenges that Canada needs to correct include long waiting lists, integration of primary care, and the unequal allocation of resources among the provinces.