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The Real 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 major areas that paints a wrong picture in this health system includes wait time which ranks as the top concern, access and shortage of healthcare providers. In addition to these, other emerging issues such as environmental health challenges such as air and water pollutions are also becoming major areas of concern.

This situation forced the federal government to device a 10 year plan in 2005 to see the issue solved. As much as the current data is showing a decreasing trend in wait time, the issue still emerges as the top of the concern among the majority of the Canadian population.

The issue has been so persistent forcing the federal government to take measures with the aim of addressing it. The year 2005 for instance saw the federal government and the provincial hospitals draw a ten year plan that would see the significant reduction in the average wait time. The problem has not yet been fully solved almost 10 years later.

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.

This means that the most cherished national treasure in Canada is at stake and something must be done. As currently structured, administered and financed, this system will need a radical surgery in order to give the true value to Canadians.




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